CHILD LABOUR
Work that harms a child's physical or mental development and deprives them of their chidhood, potential, or dignity is commonly referred to as child labour.
Child Labour Statistics in India
In 2001, one in every ten workers in India was a child, with approximately 12.66 million children aged 5-14 working.
The National Sample Survey Office reported that this number dropped to 8.9 million in 2004-05.
Despite legislation, the number of child labourers is believed to have risen since then.
Causes of Child Labour
Poverty: Poverty drives parents or guardians to allow their children to work, often as domestic servants, to supplement household income.
Enrolling children in school can lead to a loss of income for impoverished families.
Social Norms: Cultural traditions in some communities enforce child labour in specific jobs like agriculture or domestic work. There is also a belief that education, especially for girls, is unnecessary.
Lack of Decent Work Opportunities: High unemployment and low wages push adults and youth into informal, hazardous jobs, which can lead to child labour as families struggle financially.
Poor School Infrastructure: Inadequate facilities, insufficient teachers, and unaffordable fees at some schools discourage enrollment and lead to higher dropout rates.
Emergencies: Natural disasters, conflicts, and pandemics can displace families and disrupt access to services, making children vulnerable to exploitation and forced labour.
Economic Impact and Exploitation
According to Bachpan Bachao Andolan, employers of child labor in India make an estimated profit of around Rs 1,20,000 crore annually, often unreported to evade taxes.
Child labor often replaces unskilled adult labor due to lower costs.
Approximately 90% of child laborers in India are in rural areas, primarily due to poverty.
Children from lower castes and minority religious communities are more vulnerable to exploitation.
Child Labour as a Human Rights Violation
The employment of children is a violation of human rights.
Numerous acts prohibit the employment of children below 14 and 15 years in specific sectors.
However, there is no law to regulate the working conditions of places where children are employed.
Connection Between Child Labour and Education
Child labour is directly related to the Right to Education.
Children are valuable human resources known for their simplicity, innocence, and potential.
Abolishing child labour and enforcing stringent laws on the Right to Education are essential.
Right to Education Act, 2009: The introduction of the Right to Education Act, 2009, is a significant step toward achieving equitable education for all children.
Demographics of Child Labour
Child workers are more prevalent among illiterate and less-educated households.
Girl children face a higher burden of child labour across India.
There are significant variations in child labour rates across different states.
Globalization and Child Labour
Globalization impacts child labour, especially in sectors requiring unskilled labor.
Child labour is more prevalent in poorer countries.
In India, poverty limits access to low-interest capital, leading to children being withdrawn from school to work, particularly during difficult times.
Challenges and Solutions
Collaborative and coercive actions are necessary to prevent child labor, especially in hazardous industries.
Child labour deprives children of education and can threaten their survival.
Government Programs in India
Since the start of globalization in 1991, the Indian government has implemented several programs to improve child education and reduce child labor:
District Primary Education Program: Focuses on improving primary education access.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Provides meals to encourage school attendance.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: Aims to achieve universal elementary education.
National Education Policy, 2020: Seeks to overhaul the education system and address issues including child labour.
Legislative Efforts to Combat Child Labour
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, and its amendments in 1996, 2006, 2016, and 2017 aim to curb child labour.
The Right to Education Act, 2009, seeks to provide education to all children.
However, the Child Labour Act primarily covers organized sectors, leaving many children vulnerable in unregulated areas
International and National Legal Framework
Geneva Declaration of Human Rights (1959): First stated the need to protect and safeguard children.
International Labour Organisation (ILO):
Committed to protecting the rights of children and young persons as a prerequisite for social justice.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Rights of children specified are incorporated into the Indian Constitution.
Indian Constitution:
Article 23: Prohibits trafficking, begging, and forced labour.
Article 24: Prohibits employment of children under 14 in hazardous work environments.
Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2016:
Introduced stricter penalties for violators.
Made violations a cognizable offense.
Even though India's figures from the 2001 Census have improved, much work remains to be done before child labour is totally eradicated from the nation. For the purpose of ensuring that no one is denied access to education and information, the government must impose stricter rules and penalties against child labour as well as free elementary education for all.
