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A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA BY: PRAJVAEL PRAKASH H
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A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CHILD
LABOUR IN INDIA
AUTHORED
BY: PRAJVAEL PRAKASH H
Christ Deemed
to be University
ABSTRACT
Child labor, a longstanding issue plaguing many developing nations,
presents a formidable challenge that transcends geographical and socio-economic boundaries. While its roots extend back through centuries, persisting not
only in impoverished regions of developing countries but also in developed nations until the early 20th century, the
problem remains alarmingly prevalent
in today's global landscape. Despite the enactment of various laws and
concerted efforts by governments to eradicate child labor, it continues
to persist worldwide.
In
the context of India, the problem of child labor takes on a complex and deeply
ingrained form, with poverty emerging
as a primary catalyst. This issue is not confined to specific geographical areas, as child labor can be
found both in urban and rural settings. However, the majority of cases are concentrated in rural areas, where poverty is more rampant. The struggle of many impoverished rural families for a
better life in urban areas often leads to a distressing cycle, compelling them to force
their children into labor to augment family income and ensure survival.
This
paper undertakes a critical analysis of the multifaceted factors responsible
for child labor in India, aiming to pinpoint areas where discrimination in child labor is particularly pronounced. Poverty emerges
as a central factor, intertwining with other social,
economic, and cultural elements to create a complex web
that entraps children into labor. The census reports from 2011 indicate a glimmer of progress. The total number of
working children in India has witnessed
a significant decline, dropping from 1.26 crore in the 2001 census to 43.53
lakh in 2011—a remarkable 65 percent
reduction. While this indicates a positive shift,
the persistence of child
labor necessitates sustained
efforts to address the root causes comprehensively, ensuring
a brighter future for the vulnerable children of India.
KEYWORDS
: Child labour, exploitation, glass industry, poverty, ILO.
INTRODUCTION
Child
labor stands as a formidable impediment to social development, a pervasive
challenge that countries aspire to eliminate entirely
as a long-term goal. The issue is particularly acute in developing nations, where it is
recognized as a serious hindrance to progress. Child labor robs children of their rightful childhood,
depriving them of basic amenities and subjecting them to conditions that are detrimental to their physical, mental, and
emotional well-being. Recent estimates
from the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveal a staggering figure of approximately 215 million children, aged five to fourteen, and engaged in labor globally.
These children often endure
mistreatment and gruelling hours of work in adverse conditions, with significant repercussions on their health.
The denial of fundamental rights, such as access to education and
healthcare, compounds the challenges faced by these vulnerable
children.
ILO's
findings indicate a disturbing trend: a significant number of child laborers
are involved in hazardous
work, and despite
legal prohibitions, the total number
of child workers
continues to rise. This puts
them at heightened risk of diseases, exposing them to enduring physical and psychological pain. Poverty emerges as a
potent force driving children into the workforce, as they strive for survival and to support their families.
While some argue that not all work undertaken by children is inherently harmful,
emphasizing potential learning
opportunities in activities like babysitting or newspaper delivery, it is crucial
to distinguish these from situations causing psychological stress, such
as human trafficking, prostitution, and pornographic activities.
Despite
the commendable efforts of international organizations to eradicate child
labor, its prevalence persists
worldwide. Many countries, including developing nations like India, have enacted legislation to outlaw child
labor. However, the complex web of socio-economic factors, particularly poverty, makes the complete elimination of
child labor a formidable challenge.
The path toward banning child labor requires sustained efforts, comprehensive strategies, and a collective commitment to
ensure a future where every child can enjoy the innocence and opportunities of
a proper childhood.
Child
labor is not just a statistical concern but a deeply entrenched social issue
that demands comprehensive
understanding and persistent efforts. Beyond the stark numbers, the human impact is profound—millions of children
robbed of their rightful childhood, subjected to conditions that compromise their physical, mental,
and emotional well-being. The global
estimate
of 215 million child laborers, as reported by the International Labour
Organization (ILO), is a stark
reminder that, despite strides in awareness and advocacy, this challenge remains
a pressing reality.
The
conditions these children endure are distressing. Mistreatment, prolonged
working hours, and hazardous
environments create a bleak backdrop for their formative years. Denied basic rights such as access to education and
healthcare, these children face a compromised future. The numbers working in hazardous conditions, as highlighted by
the ILO, underscore the urgency of
addressing this issue. The rise in total child laborers, despite legal
prohibitions, reflects the complex and deeply
rooted nature of the problem.
The
nexus between child labor and poverty is a critical aspect that cannot be
overlooked. For many children, work
becomes a means of survival, a contribution to their families' meagre incomes. This harsh reality underscores
the interconnectedness of socio-economic factors and the persistence of child labor. Addressing this issue
necessitates a holistic approach that goes beyond legal frameworks, delving
into poverty alleviation, education accessibility, and healthcare provisions.
International
organizations have indeed taken commendable strides in combating child labor, and many countries have implemented
legislation to prohibit it. However, the persistence of this issue, particularly in developing countries like India,
underscores the complexity of the challenge.
Achieving a total ban on child labor requires sustained efforts, social reform,
and a commitment to addressing the
root causes, with poverty at the forefront. It is a collective responsibility to ensure that every child
is afforded the opportunity to grow in an environment that nurtures their
potential, rather than one
that robs them of their innocence
and potential.
MEANING OF CHILD LABOUR
Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that
deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular
school, and that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful1.
1 . Das,
Saswati, “Incidence of child labor and child schooling in India: Pattern and
Determinants,” ISRN Economics. Vol.2, 2012
Defining
child labour is not as simple and straight forward as it may appear because it encompasses three difficult-to-define concepts
“child”, “work” and “labour”.
In the context of child labour, a working definition of a
“child” may be a person below the general limit of Fifteen years or in special
circumstances fourteen years,
set by the Minimum Age Convention, 1973.
According to ILO(1983), “child labour includes
children prematurely leading
adulteries, working long
hours for low wages under conditions damaging to their health and to their physical
and mental development, sometimes separated from their families,
frequently deprived of meaningful education and training opportunities that would open for them a better
future.”
CONTEPENTARY DEFINATION OF CHILD LABOUR
Child Labour is both a cause and a consequence of poverty – the international Centre on Child
Labour and education. The term child labour has many definitions by
different scholars. According to
Suda, the term child labour refers to when children is working in any type of work that is dangerous and harmful to
children’s health or the work hinders their education. For Moyi child labour refers to low wages, long hours, physical
and sexual abuse. According to Edmonds
and Pavcnik child labour is viewed as a form of child
labour abuse, when children work in bad conditions and hazardous occupations. The term child labour is generally interpreted as “all cases in which children are exposed to harm at work whether
or not children are less
than 14 years old or less” (UNICEF, 2005), the meanings and implications of
child labour have been highly
dependent on its social, cultural, and economic contexts as well as missions,
strategies, and objectives of each
working organization.
Trade
unions, consumer groups and the International Labour Organization (ILO) often
used “child labor” and “child
labourer” instead of “working children,” implying that children
should be kept away from the labor force at least until they reach a minimum
working age on the basis of the fact that these organizations historically tended to protect and secure adult
labor markets. In other words, the ILO's primary
concern was to protect adult employment and wages, the idea that children’s economic freedom should be abridged to
protect the economic welfare of adults”
has been reiterated implicitly in various forms of child labor legislation.
Conversely, UNICEF and UNICEF- affiliated NGOs referred to “child labor”
according to article
32 of the Conventions on
the Rights of the child, in which child labor includes any economic activities impending
or hindering the child's full development or education. This UNICEF tradition continues, as these
organizations often describe child labour as “working children”. The term 'child labour', suggests ILO, is best
defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and
that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally
dangerous and harmful to children, or work whose
schedule interferes with their ability
to attend regular
school, or work that
affects in any manner their ability to focus during war and clubs and boutros,
school or experience a healthy childhood.
TYPES OF CHILD LABOUR
Child labour is a term that needs to be unpacked: it cannot be used in a
sweeping manner but covers a range
and variety of circumstances in which children work2. Child
labourers are involved in the
following forms of works:-
·
Child labour: -Those children who are doing paid or unpaid work in factories, workshops, establishment, mines and in the service sector such
as domestic labour. The ministry of
Labour, Government of India has employed the term „child labour' only in the context of children doing
„hazardous? work. By implication, children who
are not doing hazardous? work are not considered to be child
labourers and are said to be doing child work.
·
Street children: - Children living on and off the
streets, such as shoeshine boys, rag pickers, newspaper vendors, beggars etc. are called street children. Most children have some
sort of home to go back to in the evening or nights, while street children are completely alone and are at the mercy of their employers. They live on the pavements, in the bus stations and railway stations.
·
Bonded children: - Children who have either been
pledged by their parents for paltry sums of money or those working
to pay off the inherited
debts of their fathers. Bonded
children are in many ways the most difficult to assist because they are inaccessible. If
2 Bhatt, Bilal Ahmad,
“Gender, education and child labour-
A sociological perspective” Centre of Central
Asian Studies, University of Kashmir, J&K,
and vol. 5(6): 2010
pages-323-328.
the
carpet owner has bought them, they cannot escape. If the middle-class housewife has paid for them, they cannot run away.
If the landlord in the village owns them, they will spend their life in servitude
till they get married and can, in turn, sell their children.
·
Working children: - Children who are working as part
of family labour in agriculture and
in home-based work. If children are working 12-14 hours a day along with their parents at the cost of their education,
their situation is similar to that of children
working for other employers. In fact children, particularly girls, are
expected to take on work burdens by
parents in complete disproportion to their strengths and abilities. This is the largest category
of children who are out-of-school and are working
full time. And it is here that we find the largest
percentage of girls working at the cost of education.
·
Children used for sexual exploitation: - Many thousands
of young girls and boys serve the sexual appetites of men from all
social and economic backgrounds. Direct links
between the commercial sexual exploitation of children and other forms of exploitative child labor are numerous. Factories, workshops, street corners,
railway stations, bus stops and homes where children work are common sites of sexual exploitation. Children are especially powerless to resist abuse by
employers, either as perpetrators or
intermediaries. The physical and psychosocial damage inflicted by commercial sexual
exploitation makes it one of the
most hazardous forms of child
labor.
·
Migrant children: – India faces a huge challenge with
“distress seasonal migration “. Millions
of families are being forced to leave their homes and villages for several months every year in search of
livelihoods. These migrations mean that families are forced to drop out of schools, something that closes up the only
available opportunity to break the
vicious cycle generation after generation. At worksites migrant children are inevitably put to work. Many
industrial and agro- industrial sectors like brick- making, salt manufacture, sugar cane harvesting, stone quarrying, construction, fisheries, plantations,
rice mills and so on run largely on migrant labour.
·
Children engaged in household activities: – Apart from children who are employed
for wages (either bonded or
otherwise) as domestic help, there are a large number of children (especially girls)
who are working
in their own houses, engaged
in what is not normally seen as “economic activity”.
These children are engaged in taking care of
younger siblings, cooking,
cleaning and other such household activities. As seen in the literature
on women’s work, such activities need to be recognized as „work?. Further, if such children
are not sent to school,
they will eventually join the labour force as one of the above categories
of child labour.
OBJECTIVES
·
To analyse existing strategies for addressing the issues through policy, education
and advocacy.
·
To evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies
and regulations aimed at eliminating child labour in India.
·
To identify the
legal framework at international and national level to protect
the rights of the children’s.
·
To examine the role
of judiciary in protecting the child right.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In conducting research
paper on child labour, researcher employed a doctrinal
research methodology to navigate the intricate legal dimensions of this pervasive
issue. This methodology involved a comprehensive examination and analysis
of existing legal frameworks,
statutes, and judicial decisions pertaining to child labor at both national and international levels. By delving into
legal doctrines, principles, and precedents, aimed to discern the evolution of laws addressing child labor and
critically assess their effectiveness. The
doctrinal approach allowed the researcher to construct a nuanced understanding
of the legal landscape surrounding
child labor, identifying gaps, ambiguities, and potential areas for reform. Drawing on authoritative legal
sources, systematically interpreted and synthesized legal provisions, providing a solid foundation for the
formulation of recommendations and conclusions in my research
paper. This doctrinal
methodology facilitated a rigorous exploration of the legal intricacies
surrounding child labor, contributing to a more informed and insightful analysis
of the subject matter.
SOCIO-AND ECONOMCAL FACTORS RELATED
TO CHILD LABOUR
1)
Poverty as root cause: Different
circumstances affect the child labour.
Studies have demonstrated that the most notable reason
is poverty (Bhat & Rather, 2009). Decisions about child labour and schooling are generally made by parents. If the
family’s income below the poverty
line, parents think that children should also contribute in their family
income. Basu (1998) used a theoretical model of child labour, where he showed the only reason parents
send children to labour is
because of their low income. Consequently poor parents cannot afford schooling for their children. Thus, mainly
poor households are to send forced their children to labour instead of
sending to school.
2)
Family size: In fact, the involvement of children in
large poor household’s usually more rather
than smaller households which demonstrates family size have an effect on child
labour. Parents oblige their
children to work because they are not able to manage the demands of a large size family. There are also gender
differences among household size. Not everyone and of all age in the family are working as child labour, which
depends on the child's age and gender, for example boys are more likely to attended
to school than girls.
3)
Family condition: There are many growing children who
have either lost one or both the parents
and those impacted by HIV/AIDS in the family, are forced to work in order to
support themselves and their
siblings. The numbers of orphaned children are increasing particularly in sub Saharan Africa,
many whom become street children,
and live in very difficult
circumstances.
4)
Traditional
or cultural factors: Culture is another factor which forces children into
labour market. Different cultures of many societies
make children start work at very young age which are related to traditions and
cultural factors. They assumed that children need to learn skills that can be good for their future.
According to Tauson
(2009) in rural Guatemala; parents
prefer their children
to work because they considered
it beneficial for them as they learn work skills.
5)
Corruption: Corruption is the one of major cause for
abusing resources, wherever there is poverty;
there is also corruption (Murphy, 2005). According to United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) (2012) “Corruption exacerbates poverty
and inequality, undermines human development and stability and sustains conflict, violates
human rights, and erodes the democratic functioning of countries”. Corruption can have hugely
negative effect on children’s right that deprives basic services such
as health care, education and infrastructure. Corruption can diminish children’s ability to escape poverty.
6)
Civil war: The civil war is another factor
contributing to child labour. The war destroys the economy of the country, people become much poor and all resources go to the war. Wars burn all
good things that any country could have. It brings diseases, poverty, damages,
and many other horrible things.
Again, no help will be of use as long as the war is continues.
7)
Urban migration: Many rural families
migrate to urban areas because
of rural push and urban
pull factors. As a consequence of that, they are often forced to live
and work in the street as they lack
access to basic requirements such as food; shelter etc. and these children
become street workers as vendors.
Mostly street workers are vulnerable to violence and become more susceptible to illegal works, such as
stealing, trafficking, drugs and prostitution (Yadav & Sengupta, 2009). These children live in
urban poverty; many child labourers live in unhealthy poor conditions slum areas and work in poor environment such
as domestic work, or work in hotels and restaurants etc. This means that the population is increasing in cities due to immigration
and natural growth. Urban poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon. Urban poverty in developing countries faces many
challenges in their daily lives. Many poor people are living under great hardship,
due to unemployment, housing shortages, violence and unhealthy environments. Increased
urbanization has resulted in poverty in the cities. Urban poverty raises slums. These areas are
characterized by high unemployment, poor sanitation, inadequate access to clean drinking water and inadequate housing.
8)
Globalization: Globalization is another cause of child
labour. Globalization has positive and negative
impacts, nevertheless; globalization might give developing countries the
opportunity to increase their gross
domestic production (GDP) per capita via new trade possibilities and ascend their foreign direct investment
(FDI) inflows. Globalization also has brought adverse impacts on child
labour in developing countries. In recent
years, many international companies moved their
production abroad. These companies often indulge in hiring children as cheap labours as they are endurable, and Carry out commands given
by their employers even if they’re
abused and exploited. Mishra claims that in India, globalization has
obliged more children to work in
hazardous occupations like brick kiln, motor garage, hotels, shops,
transportation, manual loading work etc.
9)
Relationship between child labour,
Family income and Education: Lack of education or poor quality education is another factor that
contribute to high incidence of child labour. Education is considered one of the main alternatives to abolish child
labour. Practically family income affects
children’s education and poor parents cannot afford to pay for children
however, children are compel
to work and are less enrolled.
10)
The opportunity costs of education: The cost of education is another problem
amongst poor households. This has contributed to the exploitation of children. Schools need to be affordable and accessible. Kondylis and Marco (2006) assume, that schools
available in developing countries may
help to increase school enrolment but may not reduce the incidence of child labour3. Bhat argues that the
quality education can help to keep children away from work, consequently it is important for a school
to have educated teacher’s ratio in the classrooms. However for many poor parents
it can be costly to send their children to school, as they families
live on children’s income and cannot afford school fees, uniforms or
other additional costs. (Bhat-2010).
This is a problem in developing countries to provide quality free education because
it will cost money for governments.
3 . Dash, Vishnu
Mohan, “Factors contributing the incidence of child labor in Small
Scale Commercial
Establishment:
A study in Delhi”, OIDA International Journal of Sustainable development,
Vol.05, No.12, 2013, pp.41-58.
EFFICANCY OF LAWS PROTECTING A CHILD
The efficacy
of laws protecting children
from child labor in India is a complex and multifaceted issue
that warrants a comprehensive examination. India has enacted
several legislative measures to address child labor, including
the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, which prohibits the employment of children in certain
hazardous occupations and regulates working conditions in others. Additionally, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Act, 2009, mandates free education for children aged 6 to 14, aiming to deter child labor by promoting education. While these legal frameworks represent significant strides, their effectiveness is hindered by various challenges.
Implementation
remains a major obstacle. Despite stringent laws, enforcement is often lax, allowing some unscrupulous employers to
exploit loopholes or flout regulations altogether. The vast informal sector in India poses a particular challenge,
as child labor is prevalent in small-scale enterprises where monitoring is
challenging4.
Socioeconomic factors,
primarily poverty, continue to drive child labor. In many
cases, families, grappling
with financial hardships, resort to sending
their children to work to supplement
household incomes. This necessitates a holistic approach that addresses the
root causes of child labor, combining
legal measures with poverty alleviation programs. The prevalence of child labor in hidden or unregulated sectors, such as domestic work and agriculture, poses challenges to
effective enforcement. The informal nature of these sectors makes it
difficult to monitor and regulate, contributing to the persistence of child
labor.
In
recent years, there have been positive developments, including increased
awareness and efforts by NGOs and
government agencies to combat child labor. Amendments to existing laws, such as the proposed
changes in the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016, indicate a
recognition of the need for stronger legal measures. India has made strides in establishing laws to protect
children from labor exploitation, the
4Basu, k, “Child
labor: consequences, and cure,
with Remarks on International labour Standards” journal
of Economic Literature, vol. XXXVII.U, 1999.
effectiveness
of these measures is hampered by challenges in implementation, socioeconomic factors, and the hidden nature of
certain sectors. Addressing child labor requires a concerted effort involving robust enforcement, targeted
interventions to alleviate
poverty, and a comprehensive
approach that addresses the root causes of this pervasive issue.
INTERPRETATION ON HOW LAWS COULD BE MODIFIED TO ERADICATE CHILD
LABOUR
Eradicating
child labor demands a nuanced interpretation and modification of existing laws
to create a more robust legal
framework that addresses the intricate challenges surrounding this pervasive issue. First and foremost, there
should be a comprehensive revaluation of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, to strengthen its
provisions and extend its reach.
Amendments should broaden the definition of hazardous work to encompass a wider range of activities that pose risks to the
physical, mental, and moral well-being of children. Additionally, the age limit for employment should be revisited,
ensuring that no child is engaged in
labor before the completion of mandatory education, as mandated by the Right of Children
to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
The legal modifications should focus on enhancing enforcement mechanisms. Stricter penalties and a streamlined process for reporting and addressing
violations would act as deterrents. Collaborative efforts
between law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community
stakeholders should be facilitated to ensure a collective approach in combating child labor. The legal framework
should also acknowledge the evolving nature
of the workforce and technological advancements. This entails
incorporating provisions that address new forms of exploitation, such as online child labor or child trafficking facilitated through
digital platforms. An adaptive legal
structure can effectively keep pace with emerging challenges. There should be a concerted effort to
integrate child labor laws with broader socio-economic policies. Poverty alleviation programs, accessible and quality
education, and social welfare initiatives
are integral components in preventing families from resorting to child labor
due to financial desperation.
Legislation should also prioritize the protection of vulnerable groups, such as migrant and informal sector
workers, who are often overlooked by existing laws. Robust monitoring systems should be established to cover these
hidden sectors where child labor tends to thrive.
The
modification of laws to eradicate child labor requires a thoughtful and
multifaceted approach. By strengthening existing
legislation, improving enforcement mechanisms, adapting to technological advancements, and
aligning with broader socio-economic policies, we can create a legal framework that is not only responsive to the current
challenges but also paves the way
for a future where every child is afforded the right to a childhood free from
exploitation and labor.
STSTISTICS OF CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA
As per census reports,
Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra are top five states where no. of child labour is more than other
states. The highest
jump in terms of percentage
is of Uttar Pradesh where child labour increased by 12% to 21%. More than 300000 children are estimated to be
trapped in India’s carpet industry. Most of India’s carpets are woven in Uttar Pradesh where the
majority of workers are low-caste Hindu boys. As per the previous records, the child laborers were mostly working in
agriculture, paan (betel), bidi, construction, domestic
work, spinning, and weaving sector
etc. The priority
of the government is to
eliminate child labor especially in hazardous occupations. Indian law
specifically defines 64 industries
as hazardous and it is a criminal offence to employ children in such hazardous industries. In 2001, an estimated 1% of all
child workers, or about 120,000 children in India were in a hazardous job5. Notably, Constitution of
India prohibits child labour in hazardous industries
(but not in non-hazardous industries) as a Fundamental Right under Article 24. Additionally, various laws and the Indian
Penal Code, such as the Juvenile Justice (care and protection) of Children Act-2000, and the Child Labour
(Prohibition and Abolition) Act-1986 provide
a basis in law to identify, prosecute and stop child labour in India. India
formulated a National Policy on Child
Labour in 1987. This Policy seeks to adopt a gradual & sequential approach with a focus on rehabilitation of
children working in hazardous occupations. It
envisioned strict enforcement of Indian laws on child labour combined with
development programs to address the
root causes of child labour such as poverty. In 1988, this led to the National
Child Labour Project
(NCLP) initiative. This legal and development initiative continues, with a current central
government funding of Rs.6 billion,
targeted solely to eliminate
child labour in India. The Ministry of Labour and Employment had implemented
5 International Labour Organization, (2013). World Report
on Child Labor Economic Vulnerability, some protection and
the fight against child labour,
Geneva.
around
100 industry-specific National Child Labour Projects to rehabilitate the child
workers since 1988. Under this
scheme, children in the age group of 9-14 years are rescued from hazardous occupations and enrolled in NCLP
special training centre which has provisions for bridge education, vocational, training, mid-day meal, stipend,
health care and others before being
mainstreamed into formal education system. A 2009–10 nationwide survey found
child labour prevalence had reduced
to 4.98 million children (or less than 2% of children in 5–14 age groups). The 2011 national
census of India found the total number
of child labour,
aged 5– 14, to be at 4.35 million and the total
child population to be 259.64 million in that age group. The decrease in number of children working
is an encouraging sign, and suggests the effectiveness
of the schemes (direct or indirect like focus on primary school enrolment under “The Right of Children to Free and
Compulsory Education Act” of 2009) implemented by the Government though other reasons including social awareness and
economic growth are also playing a role. Many NGOs like Bachpan Bachao
Andolan, Child Fund, CARE India,
Talaash Association, Child Rights and You, Global march against
child labour, RIDE India,
Child line etc. have been working to eradicate child labour in India
CONCLUSION
In the year 2015, India found itself grappling with the disconcerting
reality of hosting the largest
population of children engaged in illegal labor across various industrial
sectors. The agricultural landscape, being the predominant sector, witnessed a significant number of children toiling at tender
ages to contribute to their family's sustenance. The root causes
of this deeply
entrenched issue lay in a confluence of family-related factors,
including high unemployment rates, large family sizes,
pervasive poverty, and a lack of parental education. These factors collectively propelled children into the workforce at an early
age, rendering child
labor a widespread phenomenon in the country.
This alarming
situation prompted the scrutiny of Indian social scientists and Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), who conducted
extensive research to quantify the extent of child labor in India. Their findings
revealed a stark reality—India accounted for one-third of Asia's child labor and a staggering one-fourth of the global
child labor population. In response to this crisis, the Indian government initiated
comprehensive measures to curtail the prevalence of child labor and emphasize
the paramount importance of fostering the proper growth and
development of children.
The
concerted efforts included the implementation of regulations and legal
restrictions aimed at curbing
child labor. The impact of these measures
became evident with a notable
65 percent decline
in child labor between 2001 and 2011, reflecting a positive trajectory in addressing the issue. However, despite this substantial
decrease, concerns persist, particularly in rural areas where 85 percent of child labor continues to be concentrated,
with the remaining 15 percent occurring in urban areas.
While the reduction in overall numbers
is commendable, the focus must now shift
to addressing the specific challenges prevalent in
rural India. Targeted interventions, education programs, and socio-economic support are crucial to ensuring that every
child has the opportunity to escape
the clutches of labor and access a future marked by education, growth, and
well-being. The journey towards
eradicating child labor in India demands continued vigilance, sustained efforts, and a commitment to creating a
society where the innocence and potential of every child are safeguarded.
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Article Information
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA BY: PRAJVAEL PRAKASH H
Authors: PRAJVAEL PRAKASH H
- Journal IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Published 2024/04/19
- Issue 7
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International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis
- Abbreviation IJLRA
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