Kohima: Nagaland is grappling with the ethics of placing children in urban households for labor in exchange for schooling. A recent Morung Express poll reveals deep public discomfort with this tradition. The survey asked if the arrangement is safe for a child, and 68 percent of respondents said no. Only 8 percent supported the practice, while 23 percent remained ambivalent.
Critics did not mince words. They branded the system as modern slavery hidden under the guise of charity. One respondent declared, “This is not 'exchange for education'. This is child labour dressed up as charity.” Many pointed out that children are often removed from their homes without consent to face physical, mental, and verbal abuse in their new environments.
Proponents of the practice argued that these arrangements provide children from remote areas with essential discipline and access to schools they otherwise lack. Some claimed that children gain valuable work ethics. The 23 percent who landed in the middle argued that the outcome depends entirely on the character of the host family. Personal anecdotes from this group varied wildly, ranging from success stories of children earning master's degrees to reports of lasting psychological trauma.
The debate has shifted toward a demand for structural change. Respondents called for better rural school infrastructure to eliminate the need for such arrangements. Many suggested that tribal bodies and student organizations must monitor these households to prevent exploitation. With the law already prohibiting domestic work for children under 14, the consensus suggests that Nagaland is moving away from defending this risky trade-off.
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