Dear Friends,

In our first newsletter for 2008, CRY America is happy to say that our fight for child rights goes on. The going is as tough as ever, but thanks to likeminded and committed supporters like you, we continue to impact the lives of thousands of children like Subhag Lal who once a child laborer has today grown up to be the village pradhan in Ghorewal in Sonebhadra district in Uttar Pradesh, North India. Read the story below to know how.

India is past its sixth decade as an independent nation, but it is a matter of concern for every individual that approximately 16.5 million of India's children, are still being deprived of a fulfilling and enriching childhood, due to an imbalance in social and economic conditions. The time they should spend in learning and playing, and enjoying the carefree innocence of childhood, is spent in doing hard - often hazardous- work to support their families.

The Labor Ministry in India is examining a proposal to amend the Child Labor (Prohibition) Act to increase the age limit to 18 years - a move meant to be in consonance with the United Nations Convention on Child Rights, to which India is a signatory. But CRY America re-iterates that this effort is inadequate as it does not address the reasons behind the situation. Even if the current legislation is rigorously enforced, the supply chain of cheap child labor will continue to be available. It can only be eradicated if its root causes are also addressed - causes like social and economic marginalization, poverty, displacement, migration, lack of a coherent policy towards quality education for all children etc.

While this issue needs to be looked at holistically, small, everyday things we do as responsible citizens, can addup to make a bigger difference to the lives of children.

Let's pledge to do whatever we can, to stand up for child rights. Sign the pledge below.

In faith and good will,

Shefali Sunderlal
President,
CRY America