India is the largest child labour force market in the world. The problem of child labour in India is of colossal proportions. The notion that children are being exploited and forced into labour, while not receiving education crucial to development, concerns many people. India is the largest example plagued by the problem of child Labour.
Article 24 of the Indian constitution clearly states that, “No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or employed in any hazardous employment.”
There are certain legislations that prohibits child labour and they are :
- The Factories Act of 1948: The Act prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 years in any factory.
- The Mines Act of 1952: The Act prohibits the employment of children below 18 years of age in a mine.
- The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986: The Act prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 years in hazardous occupations identified in a list by the law.
- The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) of Children Act of 2000: This law made it a crime, punishable with a prison term, for anyone to procure or employ a child in any hazardous employment or in bondage.
- The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009: The law mandates free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14 years.
Major causes of child employment that can be understood are: Poverty, Debts, professional needs etc . Though poverty is one of the basic cause of child labour, it is not the only factor but inadequate schooling facility or even the expense of schooling leaves them with little else to do but work. According to the ILO, there are around 12.9 million Indian children engaged in work between the ages of 7 to 17 years old.
The problem of Child labour has social, economical and political faces. It cannot be eliminated by focusing on one determinant, for example education, or by brute enforcement of child labour laws. The government of India must ensure that the needs of the poor are filled before eliminating child labour. If poverty is eradicated, the need for child labour will automatically diminish. No matter how hard India tries. Child labour always will exist until the political and bureaucratic are honestly working in this direction. The development of India as a nation is being hampered by child labour. Children are growing up illiterate because they have been working and not attending school. A cycle of poverty is formed and the need for child labour is reborn after every generation. India needs to address the problem by tackling the underlying causes of child labour through governmental policies and with the coordination and cooperation of the NGO’s and the enforcement of these policies honestly in true spirit. Without wiping out the causes permanently, we cannot eradicate the typical problem of child labour, the halfhearted measures are not sufficient. If we could eradicate poverty. Child labour will automatically say good bye India.
References:
Websites-
- Blog.ipleader.in
Books-
- Arihant Publication
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