research 23/2010/E 25 Sayed Ibadullah Rashdi/Aijaz A. Khooharo/Rajab A. Memon Working children and TV in Pakistan Socio-cultural impact of satellite TV on working children in the Sindh province In Sindh, Pakistan, 300 working statements, and limited entertainment much influence on the core set up, the children in different occupations programs; satellite TV has influenced the outer were interviewed about their TV (2) Star and Zee TV networks which shell of Sindhi society. A majority use. Most of them reported having are mostly relaying Indian films, of sample respondents of that study access to satellite television, watch- drama, and selected cultural and en­ reported changes in their approach to ing an average 92 minutes of TV on vironmental documentaries; education of girls, music, traditions, working days. (3) Main English news and movie house décor and architecture, attire, networks such as the BBC, CNN and local cuisine, and culinary practices. Fox TV which provide international The present study was a pioneering lectronic media were intro­ news and commentaries; the HBO research to determine the use of tele­ duced in British India when and STAR network also relay movies, vision by working children and its Ethe first formal Radio station sports and entertainment programs; socio­economic impact in urban as was established in Bombay in July (4) Islamic channels such as Haq and well as rural areas of Sindh province 1927. This medium was successfully SAMA TV etc. which continuously of Pakistan. This article incorporates used for agricultural and rural devel­ relay speeches of Islamic scholars, field data addressing the following opment in the 1930s. Television was recitation from Holy Quraan and re­ research objectives: first started at Lahore in 1964. Ka­ ligious as well as Qawali songs; • To determine the time of view­ rachi TV Center started relaying its (5) Private Urdu channels such as ership and popularity of various programs in November 1967. This GEO, ARY, AAJ and others which programs and the socio­cultural brought the TV to Sindh province al­ mostly handle news and commentar­ impact of satellite TV on working beit it was limited to urban areas due ies directed at Muslim audience; children in Sindh. to lack of electricity and boosters. In (6) Sindhi language channels which • To record perceptions of sample its initial years, the TV programs in­ relay news, music, and dramas. The children and their parents on the cluded news, dramas, and other enter­ overall communication strategy of impact of various categories of TV tainment programs. During the early Sindhi medium channels is secular channels and types of programs on 1980s, the PTV policy was changed in nature but their drama themes are the personality development, work to cater more for the ideological and mostly inspired by the feudal and da­ ethics, customs and value system religious dimensions. This resulted in coit culture prevailing in some rural of their kids. diminishing popularity of state televi­ districts. • To propose guidelines for a secu­ sion and paved way for the introduc­ lar and culturally compatible diet tion of VCR and satellite television of satellite TV programs in Sindh, The study in the early 1990s. Pakistan. More recently, since 2005, several pri­ This study used a sample survey vate TV networks have also entered Several studies have been done in­ method under a descriptive design. the arena. At present, there are essen­ ternationally to measure the impact Distribution of sample by working tially 6 categories of TV channels that of TV on kids and teenagers. Only category consisted of 60 girls work­ are providing a multitude of programs one detailed study on Satellite TV ing as house servants and 30 em­ for viewers in Sindh and Pakistan: and Social Change in Sindh has been ployed as bangle makers. The sample (1) Pakistan Television and its glo­ published so far by Shaikh (2007). of 210 working boys comprised of bal channels providing news, official He stated that while there was not 30 bangle workers, 30 hotel waiters, research 26 23/2010/E US $ 10.5) was and about the same proportion also accounted for me­ reported cable services. Thus, a vast chanic assistants. majority of working children in Sindh Average monthly had access to satellite TV channels. income of fathers For carpet weaving children of Thar, was Rs. 4,620 the number of TV owning families only; while that was 13 % only. For most of these of mothers was children, there was no access to cable about Rs. 2,378 services. only – equivalent Two of the interviewed children, working in tailoring (left), and carpet to 50 % of their Timing of TV viewership weaving (right). husbands. Thus, The most preferred time was prime the working chil­ evening hours (from 6 pm to 8 pm), 30 tailoring assistants, 60 sanitary dren came from families where par­ as reported by 63 % working chil­ workers, 30 mechanic assistants, ents’ income constituted an average dren (see table 2). About one­tenth and 30 carpet weavers. Majority of per capita income of US $ 0.40 per day. (11 %) of respondents (mostly the sanitary workers belonged to minority hotel waiters) reported watching tele­ groups (Christian and Hindus), while Formal education vision during morning hours from carpet weaving laborers represented On an overall basis, 38 % of the sam­ 10 am to 12 noon. The duration of TV both Muslim and Scheduled (Low) ple working children and 35 % of the watching by working children was Caste Hindus in the remote area of parents reported some years of formal 195 minutes on holidays (Fridays). Thar Desert in Sindh. primary and middle level education. It was more than double that of their Highest proportion of formal educa­ TV viewing on work days (92 min­ tion (80 %) was recorded for bangle utes). The highest average duration 1. Socio-economic profile making boys, while none for the hotel (2 hours) of watching television was waiters. Only 1 or 3.3 % of kids work­ reported by hotel waiters, while the Average age ing as carpet weavers reported any shortest average duration (1 hour) On an overall basis, average age of formal schooling (see table 1). was recorded for sanitary workers. the working children was 13 years which ranged from 10 to 15 years. Reasons for watching TV 2. Impacts of satellite While comparing age by occupa­ One­third (33 %) of the sample work­ television tion, no significant variation was ing children reported that they watch observed. Nevertheless, house maid television for entertainment. A similar girls ( average age 12.7 years) were Possession of TV sets response – enjoyment of leisure – was relatively younger and the hotel wait­ It was computed from field data that pronounced by 29 % kids; and watch­ ers (average age 13.8 years) were 82 % households possessed TV sets ing TV as a time pass was stated by comparatively older than the other groups (see table 1). Family size and working members An average family consisted of 7.65 members (2.93 sons, 2.72 daugh­ ters and 2 parents). Male population was thus higher. Working members, on an average, comprised of 1.32 sons (45 %) and 0.47 (17 %) daughters. Average monthly income Average monthly income of sample working children was computed to be Rs. 1,752 only (US $ 21). The highest monthly income (Rs. 2,930, around US $ 35) was reported for hotel wait­ ers while the lowest (Rs. 884, around Tab. 1: Formal education of the interviewed children and their parents research 23/2010/E 27 Most favorite Perceptions of parents programs Parents in general and the fathers On an overall in particular, complained that the basis, Indian English programs, Indian Films and Hindi Films were Sindhi drama serials have promoted ranked as 1st pri­ sentiments of violence and immoral ority while Sindhi behavior among their boys. Mothers drama was ranked were not satisfied by the work ethic as 2nd priority; fol­ of their girls and complained lack of lowed by cartoons interest on their part in household (rank 3rd), Indian chores. Parents of Muslim children drama (rank 4th), showed concern on the drift away sports (rank5th), from religion and traditional values Sindhi and Urdu of respect for parents and arranged Music (rank 6th), marriages, especially among boys. English programs (rank 7th), news and current affairs REFERENCES (rank 8th), and re­ Amin, Mohammad (2008). Pakistan Lacks Adequate Tab 2: When and how long do the interviewed children watch TV? ligious programs System of Child Labor Statistics. The Daily DAWN, (rank 9th). It was Karachi, July 14, 2008. 27 % of them. Only 2 % of the sample stated that Sindhi drama and Hindi ILO-IPEC (2009). Activating Media to Combat the children asserted that they watch tel­ and English movies were preferred Worst Forms of Child Labor. Project Completion Report. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, evision for acquiring knowledge and because of thrill and action. Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. learning various skills. A high per­ About half (51 %) of the sample chil­ Shaikh, Dr. Mohammad Ali (2006). Impact of Sat- centage of tailoring assistants, who dren mentioned movie/drama heroes ellite Television on Social Change in Sindh. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Karachi, Pakistan. were comparatively elder, were the as their favorite personalities, fol­ main group that reported watching lowed by sportsmen (28 %), politi­ TV for knowledge. cians (15 %), singers/musicians (5 %) and teachers (2 %). Movie/drama he­ Ranking of TV channels roes were mostly favored by sanitary THE AUTHORS On an overall basis, Sindhi chan­ workers (84 %), followed by hotel nels were ranked first, followed by waiters (62 %). A significant propor­ Indian Urdu channels, Cartoon Chan­ tion of hotel waiters (23 %) indicated Sayed Ibadullah Rashdi is Profes­ nels, Pakistani Urdu channels, and Sindhi/Urdu/Hindi singers as their sor and Director of English Movies channels.