Child Labour: Shame for Civilised Society

Child labour has hit every nook and corner not only in India but also across the globe. In other words, it is not restricted within a particular place, particular district, particular country but it is to be considered as a global problem. Across the global, to a lesser or greater degree, visible or invisible, admittedly or otherwise, child labour exists. Decades have rolled and that too in the age of globalisation. But things are not changing much fast for children living in rural areas, especially for the children of the poorer segments of the society, rather their condition is deteriorating.

Laws exist in all continents of the world to prevent the exploitation of the child. Various seminars are being held, resolutions passed and plans of action drawn up on the protection of children, yet not much could have been done about child protection and the problem grows out of proportion day-by-day. So, child laws have to be radically re-thought and re-written from the perspective of rights of the child, in terms of policy and accountability.

Apparently, child labour includes the employment of children but it entails several other dimensions which make it critical. Economic pressures coupled with the increasing trend to hire children in order to save production cost, unemployment in families are a few of the various factors responsible for the increasing child labour.

Indian Scenario
India has the dubious distinction of employing largest number of children in the world in the age group of 5 to 14. According to a recent report, about 11.2 million children are employed in child labour in the country. This accounts for 1.35 per cent of the total population, four per cent of total working population and 3.6 per cent of the total child population of the country. More than 90 per cent of the working children are in rural areas and most of them are employed in agriculture and allied activities. Not only this, India is also
a major destination for trafficked children. According to the Ministry for Women and Child Development, about 12,446 children are involved in this menace.

It is quite evident when we see the country’s capital itself, where the situation is deteriorating. A large number of children are seen working in sweet shops and small restaurants especially in major cities and towns.

Practical Problems
The Centre is planning to increase the age bar from 14 years to 18 years to end a disparity in child labour laws and juvenile justice laws. The Labour Ministry is now examining a proposal to amend the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (CLA) to increase the age to 18 in consonance with other laws and United Nations Convention on Child Rights, to which India is a signatory.

Even Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury and the chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked the Labour Ministry to define child labourers as those who are below 14 years of age are considered child labourers but the Juvenile Justice Act considers 18 as the age bar.

The Labour Ministry has also constituted a working group to consider a set of amendments in the law prohibiting child labour. The group has been constituted following recommendations from several states and child right organisations. The working group is expected to submit a list of amendments in three to six months.

Changing the age could have major implications for 13 industrial sectors and 52 types of works enlisted in the Act, where child labour is not allowed. It would mean that these sectors would not be able to employ children between the age group of 14 and 18 years, if the amendment comes through. The Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) claim lakhs of children are employed in hazardous industries listed in the Act.

Recently, the Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan ruled that protective laws for children were not being properly implemented and child labour continues to be a major problem in the country. He also cited a report that 5,000 children still eked out a living on the streets of Delhi itself.

At a meeting, the Child Labour Technical Advisory Committee headed by the Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommended that nine more processes be added to the list of hazardous occupation under the law where children cannot be employed. The list includes 15 occupations and 57 processes involving excessive heat and cold, mechanised fishing, timber handling and loading, food processing, beverages industry, diving and mechanical lumbering.

Wrong Premises
The CLA, though prohibits child (upto 14 years) labour in specified hazardous occupations (17) and processes (57) and hardly cover 10 per cent child labour, exempts household workshops and training centres altogether. With the shifting of production processes from industrial premises to homes and due to poor implementation of the law, child labour continues to thrive even in specified hazardous processes such as diamond cutting, gem polishing, carpet weaving and so on. Articles 24 of the Constitution, thus stands violated.

The majority instances of child labour belong to historically serving communities of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) or Muslims. The concept of ‘craft’ and ‘informal education’ emanates from a biased distinction made. The normal skills are considered essential for the children of the poor and marginalised placed lowest in the Hindu hierarchy.

Practical Problems
It is a fact that every problem has some solution, so does child labour. The only need is to sit down, realise and analyse the various aspects and then converging all these into some sort of viable strategy or strategies. The following are some of the practical ways:

Raising Awareness: Raising awareness among children and parents can go miles in tackling child labour. A well-thought strategy should be imple­mented to let parents know the initial needs of childhood development.

Brief Curriculum: Children need special care and brief syllabus which helps them learn fast. They can be grouped in 20 each batch supervised by an activist who can identify the weakest one among the batch and accordingly can give his attention to him.

Vocational Training: It is frequently popular among families which are susceptible to resort to child labour. While non-formal education programme can teach children skills that will offer immediate economic options as well as psycho-social support, the most formal vocational programmes require close adult supervision.

Residential Camps: These are necessary for children below 15 years of age. The camps can pave way for these children’s early education since most of the child labours have not had any education before. So, here they can well be trained properly.

It is high time that a positive start should be made to eliminate all forms of child labour from everywhere to save a greater part of humanity from their ruin. It can be tackled only when the attitude and morality of parents, exploiters and society at large get changed drastically. It is hoped that the lot of children improves their life in order to make this beautiful world happy and prosperous.