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A rickshaw driver in China chained his two-year-old to a lamp post outside a shopping mall so he could pick up customers. Someone took a photo of the boy (you can see at ABC News), which was published in newspapers and on the web. Many people were outraged. Here's the dad's side of the story.
Chen Chuanliu said he chained his son to keep him safe from getting lost or kidnapped. He is unable to afford child care—he makes about $7.35 a day from his mini taxi service.
Chuanliu's wife is mentally disabled and unable to care for their children. The couple had a four-year-old daughter who went missing last month. "I don't even have a picture of her to use for a missing person ad," he said. "I cannot lose my son as well."
Although many people have criticized Chuanliu, others see his situation as desperate and tragic. A team of mine workers sent cartons of noodles and other foodstuff to his family.
What do you think about what Chuanliu did? Was he keeping his child safe and providing for his family? Or do you think that locking a child to a post is unacceptable no matter what the circumstances?
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Comments (10)
Who could judge if they have not walked in this impoverished and desperate father's shoes. The whole thing just makes me want to cry - from all angles. Heart breaking.
In a country where children are kidnapped, stolen & sold...I cannot say I condone it but it sounds like he was doing it out of what he felt was his son's best interest. Not to be cruel....a chain will certainly deter would-be kidnappers from running off with him. So sad on so many levels.
Considering how poor most of China's people are, I can understand where he thought it the best thing in some way. Not that it was a bright idea but I do wonder if he can run a rickshaw, why didn't he strap the boy to his back with a carrier? It is definitely heart-breaking.
So sad. Not my idea of keeping a child safe, but I've never been there and I certainly can'y judge. Just so sad.
I thought people in China were only supposed to have one child per family and then get sterilized?
What a heartbreaking story and wonderful ending as the father was offered free nursery service for his son amounting over 5,000. The public response has been tremendous in helping this little boy from being chained to a light post. My heart and prayers go out to his family. I hope he finds his little girl too.
It sounds like he really did it out of desperation and from living in such a way as I have never known....we have resources in this country and fall backs, so I doubt we'll ever know from experience what this poor man and his family know. I'm sad for the man and his children that this is the only option he felt he had.
It's nice to know that other people have stepped up and helped them.
When my grandfather was a toddler his mother use to tie him to a table leg to keep him from getting in the fire. Today we'd call that abuse, they considered it a loving way to protect him. I think this father is facing an impossible situation. He did the best he could to protect the child.
Yep, he did the best he could do in this sad situation. I hate to think what happened to the little girl. :(
A couple of comments :
In China, the rickshaws are not used by people running- they are attached to bikes. It would be very difficult for him to strap his son to his back.
They are allowed to apply for a second child if they are a minority in China. Also, if they have a second child they have to pay a fine or be jailed and have their wages garnished for up to 3 years if they have not been approved. In recent years, the Party has relaxed the one child policy and many couples are now having more children. It is not uncommon in cities such as Shanghai, Changsha, Guangzhou, and Beijing to see people with more than one child. We saw many people with multiple children while we were there. They are not required to be sterilized at all and never have been.