A documentary on dark sides of the city

KOCHI: Thannoos Movie makers is all set to begin the shooting of the documentary ‘Peru=Manushyan’ based on real-life incidents of child slave trade in the city. It will be released on Children’s Day. Based on the daily incidents of children sold to slave trade in the late night hours and early morning hours within and outside the city, the documentary highlights the social activities of Murugan. Murugan has been rescuing children as young as 12 years who had been sold as labourers. He has been actively involved in the social activities for long and is the secretary of the ‘Theruvora Pravarthaka Association’. “Two months ago, Murugan spotted a child labourer at a star hotel in the city. This has become a common site, happening in broad daylight,” says documentary director Premnath P V.Though, such an issue may be common place, with the same tales of woes and sadness, there are times when people still don’t know who to turn to when they find a child labourer at work. “Through the documentary, we intend to bring out a very relevant social issue. Something that the public knows but should be reminded of,” says Premnath.According to Murugan, in most cases the public themselves do not want to take the extra step to help. And in those cases where the public want to help, they do not know who to approach when encountered with such problems. The documentary tells people what to do when they find children in such situations. Usually, child labourers are found at flats, working as baby-sitters. “We are planning to bring this problem to the notice of residential  associations.” Most of these incidents happen in broad daylight in the city and many in the night. Murugan said, “You find children being used at the dead of the night for digging roads. Sometimes, the contractors are not aware of this. We intend to open their eyes, too.” Travellers who journey in the late hours in the city say that finding children spread out in the streets is a common site. Incidentally, most of these minors are from outside the state and their parents are not aware of the problem.“Child labour cannot be wiped out completely from the state, but we have a responsibility to bring it to a minimum.” Apart from this, the documentary highlights other serious issues such as beggary, and the problem of elderly destitutes, which has been of late rising alarmingly in the city.