Child labour in India is a very common problem this nation is facing today. Lives of many children is at stake. Child labour not only affects the children physically but also affect them mentally, destroying their future. Child labour is a very serious issue in developing countries and this is mainly because of merely on reason that is poverty. This is a very major problems because children are considered the future of any nation. There were many laws enacted to ban the use of children but they did not work. According to 2017 statistics India is one of the leading countries in Asia with 33 million children employed in various child labor practices.
Under the Child labour Prohibition and regulation Act 1986 child is defined as a person who has not attained the age of 14 years. As a common man we can understand that child labour is a practice of indulging a child into a full time economy activity job. Every child is considered a gift of God, to be cared for with care and love in the family and in the community. But unfortunately due to socio-economic problems children were forced to work in factories, leather factories, hotels and restaurants. Child abuse is not uncommon but is associated with the socio-economic crisis so in order to end child exploitation we must first focus on socio-economic issues. It is in the hands of management .It should provide effective ways to end child labor.
Let’s talk about few causes which has led to child labour in our country. They are as follows:
- Poverty
Poverty is one of the main causes of child labor. In developing countries poverty is one of the major problems and children are considered to be helping to provide for their families, and meet the basic requirements of their livelihood.
- Debts:
The poor economic conditions of the Indian people are forcing them to borrow money. Uneducated people seek credit from creditors during emergencies. Later they find it difficult to repay their loans and interest, as a result of which creditors are forced to work for creditors and the creditors drag their children to help them. so that the debts are paid.
- Professional requirements: there are many industries which require work of extreme delicacy and so small hands are are suitable for it but it also indulges lots of risks. For example- factory where glass work is done.
Children’s Rights Under National Law:
India has also taken an active measure below the national level. To end child labor, India has introduced constitutional and legislative measures. India’s constitution has consistently included provisions for compulsory basic education and child protection for workers. The Labor Commission in India has embarked on the problems of child labor and has made extensive recommendations. The Constitution of India, which also provides for certain rights to children and prohibits the use of children on such conditions are as follows:
- No child under the age of 14 shall be employed in any factory or mine or perform any other hazardous occupation.
In particular, the state will focus its policy on ensuring that the health and strength of workers, men and women and the age of children are not violated and that a citizen is not compelled by economic necessity to perform activities that are not appropriate for his or her age or power. .
- Children are provided with opportunities and resources to grow up healthy and in an environment of freedom and dignity and to have children and youth protected from exploitation and moral and material abuse.
- The state will strive to provide, within ten years from the inception of the constitution, free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14.
- The state will provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14 in the manner prescribed by law.
- Who is the parent or guardian to provide his or her child with educational opportunities or, if possible, a ward between the ages of six and fourteen.
There are a variety of laws, which guarantee the scope of human rights and fundamental freedoms as provided for in the constitution and at the UN General Assembly.
The solution is in the hands of the government only, it must take the necessary steps to eradicate poverty through the employment of child parents .The necessary measures must be taken to educate children. Violators of labor laws should be punished accordingly.
There are many laws and departments that regulate child labor, but they do not apply to regulating child employment. This can only happen if there is co-operation from all sections of society and law enforcement agencies to remove or reduce the causes of child labor. The main focus should be on national control, educating children and providing adequate funding for its removal from the complete Indian domestic product.
