Child labour is one of the challenging
problems in India. The practice of engaging young children in various sectors
of labour is evident. It is astonishing to note that there is staggering figure
between 60 and115 million working children in India perhaps the highest number
in the world (Human Rights Watch, 1996). It is poverty that draws a child to
earn money to support the needs of his family. Though it is prevalent in most
parts of the country, the problem is acute in socio-economical weaker states
like UP, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh
and north-eastern states. Besides poverty, lack of education and accessible
sources of credit forces poor parents to engage their children in child labour.
India is forced to take up the challenge of providing basic amenities to these
children.
It is seen that more than 85% of child
labour is in the country’s rural areas, working in agricultural activities,
such as farming, livestock rearing, forestry and fisheries. Children also
develop skills in certain traditional crafts. These children contribute greatly
to the national income.
The Government of India is keen to
eradicate child labour. India’s unequivocal commitment to the cause of children
is well expressed in constitutional provisions, legislations, policies and
programmes. The Directive Principle of State Policy and the Fundamental Rights
reveal the commitment of the government. Besides, India is also party to the UN
Declaration on the Rights of the child, 1959. India adopted the national policy
on children in 1974. India also ratified on December 2, 1992, the Convention on
the Rights of Child of 1990. This ratification implies that India will ensure
wide awareness about issues relating to children. India is also a signatory to
the World Declaration on the survival, Protection and Development of children.
Child labour is a great socio-economic
problem. Children essentially work to maintain the economic level of the
households, either in the form of work for wages, or help in household
enterprises, or in household chores. In all the activities the basic objective
is to provide the family financial support. In some cases, it has been found
that a child’s income accounted for between 34 and 37 percent of the total
income of the household.
Poverty has a close connection with child
labour. The population of poor people in India is comparatively high. As per
the latest report of the Planning Commission, about 22% of the people live
below the poverty line. It is of child labour which supports the essential requirements
for the survival of the family. The combination of poverty and lack of social
security network form the basis of even harsher type child labour-bonded child
labour. The bonded children are forced to work hard to pay back sums of money
previously borrowed from shrewd money lenders.
Literacy is one of the major determinants
of child labour. Lack of education of a major section of the society makes them
fall a prey to child labour. Free and compulsory education result in the
increase of literacy rate. The policy of providing education for the masses
immensely helps a corresponding decline in child labour.
The strong educational base of Kerala
distinguishes it from other Indian states. The government of Kerala allocates
more funds to education than any other state with a per capita expenditure of
11.5 rupees compared to the Indian average of 7.8 rupees. Moreover, Kerala
spends more money on mass education which has led to a dropout ratio of close
to zero percent. Here, child work participation ratio is almost zero compared
to the Indian average of 7.1%. It is important to note that Kerala Government
has made no special effort to curb child labour. It is the expansion of
education that has succeeded.
An effective check on the spread of child
labour, presupposes an improvement in the state of education. High illiteracy
and dropout rates are reflective of the inadequacy of the educational system.
Poverty plays a crucial role in the ineffectiveness of the educational system.
The complex issue of child labour is an
issue of growing concern. Compulsory education and forceful enforcement of
child labour laws alone cannot solve the crisis. The government of India must
ensure that the needs of the poor are taken care of to efface child labour.
Child labour poses a serious threat to the development of India. It is
necessary to understand the ferocity of the problem in its true perspectives.
The primary cause of child labour viz. poverty has to be wiped out fully.
The policies and programs of the government
conform to its commitment which focuses on the eradication of child labour.
Though enforcement is in existence, it has failed to be much effort. Measures
have to be initiated in the proper manner by the government inorder to achieve
the goal of eradication of child labour.
