Problems of child labour in emerging India

One of the numerous problems that face India recognized by all but eluding solution in spite of best wishes and sustained efforts, is the problem of child labor. In the post-reform years the problem has assumed extra importance owing to the attempt to include social clause in the WTO agreement. Though child labor in India is found to be concentrated in specific areas or regions and in particular occupations and sectors, yet the issue acquire a new dimension following the revelation that concentration of child labor in India is the highest in the world. .

“When you look into a Childs eye you expect to see hope, trust and innocence but when you see these signs of childhood is replaced by betrayal, hunger, fear and suspicion we need to take serious stocks of ourselves and society we have created”.

It is shocking to know that in our country child laborers are equal to the population of Australia. In a UNICEF brochure it has been elaborately stated that if child labor were to be abolished and all children were to go to school, it is likely that the problems of over- population would decrease and India’s prosperity would increase.

In our towns and hamlets and at bus terminals children below the age of 14 years are engaged in roadside eating houses and tea-stalls. Children are employed in match and fireworks ( Sivakasi and Rohtak ), carpet weaving ( U.P.), beedi rolling ( Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra), diamond industry ( Gujarat) and in various other parts of the country in silver chain industry, textiles, power looms, handlooms, lorry body- building workshops, garages, domestic work, brick kilns and dyeing units. The indigent youths are forced to work for more than twelve hours with earnings disproportionate to work loads. No authority has so far bothered to curb this practice, notwithstanding the apex Court’s directions given about two-and-a-half years ago. Their masters can be compelled by the force of law to provide educational facilities to such kids so that they may develop into good citizens to shoulder higher responsibilities in the years to come.

AIMS OF ELIMINATING CHILD LABOUR

The Committee for Legal Aid to Poor (CLAP), a social action group making legal intervention to eliminate child labor system and promote primary education, which freed more than 1,000 child labourers and sent them to schools in Badamba block of Cuttack district in 2007. Project director of the NGO Ramakanta Satapathy a close friend of mine said that a survey had indicated that 3,000 children in the age group of 6-14 were engaged in various sectors in 36 panchayats of this block to supplement their family income. Since the area is a predominantly conglomerate of rural and tribal people, various secondary and tertiary sectors like beedi making, weaving, collection of minor forest produce, stone crushers, agriculture and other allied activities flourish here. Badamba was considered to be the state’s largest concentration of child labour with most of them working in hazardous conditions.

SO A BIG QUESTION ARISES WHAT SHOULD BE DONE APPROPRIATELY TO CURB THIS MENACE FROM OUR SOCIETY?