Child labour

-A study by Anuj Shaha, Fergusson College, Pune.

Definition: Child Labour is a practice of employing children who has not
completed certain years of age, for the works that are not permitted by the
law for children.

Meaning of the term: The Law clearly makes different between child labours
and child work. Law does not prohibit children from all type of works. But it
says that, when such work affects the normal growth of a child, when the
children are exploited, forced to work continuously for a long time, when they
are appointed in the occupations which will make any harm to them, or the
conditions which deprive them from education and normal socialization,
should be considered as a child labour. People involved in that should be
severely punished. Whereas children made free from such condition should be
properly rehabilitated.

In the light of the above explanation, the concept of ‘Child Work’ should be
taken positively. Certain types of works are even willingly accepted by children,
works such as preparing them for adulthood responsibilities. Work, which
gradually initiate required professional skills and the works which does not
detract from the other essential activities of children, namely, leisure, play and
education, is not child labour. Child labour is work, which impairs the health
and development of children.

Some of the areas of Child Labour Practice:

Child labour is found in many sectors. Their percentage in India is:

1) Agricultural Labour- 42%

2) Cultivators- 34.8%

3) Mining, quarrying- 6.5%

4) Manufacturing ex. Industry- 5.4%

5) Trade and Commerce- 2.5%

6) Household industry- 4%
 7) Others- 4.6%

Causes of Child Labour:

1) Poverty
2) Social Acceptance to the child labour
3) Adverse family conditions
4) Non-effective laws
5) Unsuitable and unaffordable education

Problems created by the practice of child labour:

1) Health
2) Education
3) Socialization
4) Exploitation
5) Severe Effects on Girls

Remedies to solve the problem of Child Labour:

1) Poverty Elimination
2) Educational Reform
3) Re-habilitation of the children
4) Legislative Reforms
5) Public Awareness Campaign
6) Vigilance Committees

Efforts taken by Government:

· National Child Labour Projects (NCLP):

i) National Authority for the Elimination of Child Labour (NAECL)
ii) Area Specific Projects
 iii) Child Labour Cell
iv) Assistance to Voluntary Organizations

· Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), helping to reduce the problems

of Child Labour:
i) Save the Children India (STCI)
ii) CARE
iii) Butterflies
iv) Action Aid India
v) CREDA
vi)CRY