ERNEST ADU YIRENKYI

UWRT 1101
INSTRUCTOR: RHODA LUKENS
OTOCBER 20TH, 2014.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I conducted an analysis of an article authored by Shilpa Kannan entitled Child Labor-Indians
Hidden Shame. Reference www.bbc.com/news/business-25947984.
The article is aimed at revealing the child labor situation in India. It also raises issues of noncommitment by Indias government leadership to formulate appropriate laws and regulations to
protect Indian children from hazardous labor. The contribution of Indias middle class to child
labor and also how low income levels among families is fueling child trafficking and exploitation
are reported in the article. Gray areas in Indias child protection laws are brought into the worlds
view supported by contributions from the Head of the National Commission for Protection of
Child Rights.
The main purpose of this article is to show and make people aware of the fact that those
children especially girls are suffering from all kinds of bad treatments that the government is
doing nothing to protect them all. Our child labor prohibition and regulation act is totally
outdated, says Kushal Singh, head of the national commission for protection of child right. The
intended audience for this article is the government and its officials and anyone who is interested
to know what is going on in India in connection with child labor. In this context, the specific
group of people could be the parents, and international community as whole. The reason why I

think the author wrote this article is that, she realized how these poor children were being
maltreated while the government has turned deaf ears to their numerous complaints. I think that
the author wrote this article to the audience with common interest, she was realistic to the subject
child labor and she wasnt biases, she was rather voicing to the voiceless.
The articles introduction is pretty catchy especially with the author using the pathetic stories
of Lakshmi and Sumila to capture readers attention. The conclusion encompasses (what is and
what must be) in terms of child protection laws. The unwillingness of Indias Parliament to
hasten the process of formulating effective laws to protect children also as part of the conclusion
also strengthens the authors claims. The article is coherent, moving from problems, facts, causes
and a conclusion by delving into the weak and ambiguous child labor laws in India.
The author draws on primary research to give authenticity to her voice evidenced by her
interviewing of the two abused girls, Sumila Munda and Lakshmi. However, not much secondary
research or information is utilized in her work. Although some statements in the article have the
appearance or nature of secondary information, they are not appropriately referenced hence
bringing such assertions into question. For example, a notable assertion like India is estimated
to have more child laborers than anywhere in the world should have been duly referenced to
give the article more authority. Throughout the article, significant reliance on primary
information from the victims, families, and the revelations by Kushai singh, Head of the
National commission for protection of the child rights, all corroborate the authors claim.
Consequently, it gives the paper a high level of acceptability among its target audience. Firsthand information from the two victimized young girls about their hazardous work environments,
sexual exploitations, non- payment of wages and restricted mobility classically aids the author to
give credence to her paper.

Kannan Shilpa. Febuary, 2014. Child Labor: Indias Hidden Shame.

Retrieved from; www.bbc.com/news/business-25947984. (Accessed on 8th October,
2014)
Ernest,
You did a good job analyzing this article, and I absolutely agree with you that while Kannan
could have done a bit more in terms of secondary research for this article, it is a great source of
primary info and certainly appeals to our most basic human emotions.
As Ive stated with previous assignments, your information and writing have been good, but
there are still some formatting issues, especially in your citations and quotes. This will be
something else you might want to review in your WRC sessions.
22/25