THE ABUSE OF CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA
Children are the future of the society. Today’s children will be leaders of tomorrow, who will hold the country’s banner high and maintain the prestige of the nation. Every child has a right to enjoy his/her childhood. All children must be given an opportunity to develop. Keeping these facts in mind, the founding fathers of our constitution made several provisions in the constitution for the safeguard and development of the children. But the irony is that despite various legal provisions flowing from the constitution as well as United Nation Child Right Convention (1990), the practice of child labour is rampant in India.
Although, child labour was present in India in ancient period but economic exploitation of children in India appears to have increased over the years and is extensive. Many of them are working in hazardous industries like match and fireworks, electro-plating, lead mining, lock making, bidi rolling, etc. Most of these industries have such a prevalence of child labour; this is a blot on the image of our society. It harms not only the present generation but also posterity. It is the mandatory job of government to take all possible steps to put an end to the problem.
Poverty and family debt is one of the most widespread reasons for the child labour system in India. Indian children are often forced to work out of necessity. Family poverty forces children into the workplace. The irrelevant and often inaccessible education system in India is another reason leading to increase in child labour. Most often the lack of schools and facilities leaves work as the only option for children. Decline of rural economies, urbanisation and dogmatic culture attitudes are the other fundamental causes of child labour. A final factor in the issue rests in the inefficiency of protective legislation for working children.
Although the government has made attempts to eradicate child labour, these provisions are greatly ignored and the industry continues. The exiting Child labour laws have only the effect of changing the condition of child labour rather than eliminating or reducing it. In order to overcome these obstacles, India must first recognize that a child labour crisis exists and then address each of its sources individually. Someone must be willing to accept responsibility for this injustice if it is to be eliminated.
The problem of child labour is multifaceted. Solutions to the problem have to be seen in the overall constitutional framework. All development schemes have to be accordingly geared. Rapid economic development can provide the sound economic base to combat the menace.
The vicious circle of poverty, unemployment and rurall development schemes along with schemes of social security and infrastructure related to other departments like Forests, Social Welfare and Urban Development etc. Coupled with universal primary education will provide a way to progressive elimination of child labour.
The effort at eradication of child labour needs help not only from the Government but also from the employees, parents from the NGOs. At the same time the intervention of media and the custodian of Laws has a major role to play in the implementation of policies. All of us together must ensure that the evil of child labour is eliminated from India as early as possible..
Children are the future of the society. Today’s children will be leaders of tomorrow, who will hold the country’s banner high and maintain the prestige of the nation. Every child has a right to enjoy his/her childhood. All children must be given an opportunity to develop. Keeping these facts in mind, the founding fathers of our constitution made several provisions in the constitution for the safeguard and development of the children. But the irony is that despite various legal provisions flowing from the constitution as well as United Nation Child Right Convention (1990), the practice of child labour is rampant in India.
Although, child labour was present in India in ancient period but economic exploitation of children in India appears to have increased over the years and is extensive. Many of them are working in hazardous industries like match and fireworks, electro-plating, lead mining, lock making, bidi rolling, etc. Most of these industries have such a prevalence of child labour; this is a blot on the image of our society. It harms not only the present generation but also posterity. It is the mandatory job of government to take all possible steps to put an end to the problem.
Poverty and family debt is one of the most widespread reasons for the child labour system in India. Indian children are often forced to work out of necessity. Family poverty forces children into the workplace. The irrelevant and often inaccessible education system in India is another reason leading to increase in child labour. Most often the lack of schools and facilities leaves work as the only option for children. Decline of rural economies, urbanisation and dogmatic culture attitudes are the other fundamental causes of child labour. A final factor in the issue rests in the inefficiency of protective legislation for working children.
Although the government has made attempts to eradicate child labour, these provisions are greatly ignored and the industry continues. The exiting Child labour laws have only the effect of changing the condition of child labour rather than eliminating or reducing it. In order to overcome these obstacles, India must first recognize that a child labour crisis exists and then address each of its sources individually. Someone must be willing to accept responsibility for this injustice if it is to be eliminated.
The problem of child labour is multifaceted. Solutions to the problem have to be seen in the overall constitutional framework. All development schemes have to be accordingly geared. Rapid economic development can provide the sound economic base to combat the menace.
The vicious circle of poverty, unemployment and rurall development schemes along with schemes of social security and infrastructure related to other departments like Forests, Social Welfare and Urban Development etc. Coupled with universal primary education will provide a way to progressive elimination of child labour.
The effort at eradication of child labour needs help not only from the Government but also from the employees, parents from the NGOs. At the same time the intervention of media and the custodian of Laws has a major role to play in the implementation of policies. All of us together must ensure that the evil of child labour is eliminated from India as early as possible..
