CHILD LABOUR A SOCIAL ISSUE.

Child labour definition

United nation considers "any work carried to deteriment and engage children (5-14yrs) is violation of international laws and national legislation and if the work deprives them of schooling or puts them under the dual burden of schooling and work is child labour."

Facts about child labour 

+ According to the 3rd End of childhood index 2019,India was ranked 113 in 176 countries on the well-being of children with 769 score out of 1000. This index was released by 'save the children' a UK-based non-profit organisation which works for child rights.

+ According to census 2011, the number of working children in the age group 5 to 14 years is 1.01 crore.

+ There are 22.87 million working children in India between 15 to 18 years.

+ 80% of child labour in India is concentrated in rural areas.

+ According to UNICEF report UP have maximum number of child labours.

+ ILO 2016 data indicates that there are 152 million working children in the world between 5 to 17 years of age among which 23.8 million children are in India.

What are the main causes of child labour.

1. Poverty and unemployment levels are high.

2. Access to free and compulsory education is limited.

3. National laws often includes exemptions.

4. Debt is also major factor behind child labour.

5. Conflict and mass migration

6. Most of child labourers in agriculture and involves family work

7. Forced labour.

Action taken by government and other organisations.

1. The government has amended the child labour (prohibition and regulation) act ,1986 and enacted the child labour (prohibition and regulation) amendment act ,2016. This act prohibits the employment of child below 14 years of age in any kind of occupation and it also prohibits the employment of adolescents 14 to 18 years in hazardous occupations. 

2. Government set up National commission for protection of child rights (NCPCR) it works under the women and child development ministry.

3. 86th amendment of the constitution, 2002 aims to provide free and compulsory education to the children of age group 6 to 14 years.

4. International labour organisation initiative first launched in 2002 aiming to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labour.

5. 12 June- World Day against child labour

Difficulties in countering child labour

1. Misuse of relaxation between 14 to 18 years old children and family enterprise and non hazardous works.

2. There are very huge number of child labour its very difficult to monitor them and rehab them.

3. Indian judicial system is very slow, this is the reason why people don't take initiative to protect children.

4. Children themselves don't know that which occupation adversely affecting their mental and physical health.

5. Corruption in the rehabilitation fund distribution. 

How do we stop child labour.

1. Better implementation of legal provisions.

2. Institutions of local governance like Panchayat should be empowered to a prevention of child labour in their jurisdiction.

3. Awareness building programs with parents and communities

4. Sincere implementation of livelihood screams like MNREGA ,NREGA.

5. Private institutions can also contribute by improving working condition and removing hazards from environment of young workers.

6. By supporting the NGOs like save the children.

7. Increase the access to education.

8. Engage with the sustainable development goals.

Is child labour a social issue?

Yes, child labour is absolutely a social issue because it reveals the mindset or thinking of the people who lives around us. When we buy something from the street vendor who is minor there we feel that at the age of playing and learning they have taken their family's responsibilities on their shoulders. They should have the right to live their life according to them, not because of the situational pressures.

 We pray for every child to live healthy and joyful life because they are meant to learn not to earn.