CHILD LABOUR

                            CHILD LABOUR

* WHAT IS CHILD LABOUR?

Not all work done by children should be classified as child labour that is to be targeted for elimination. The participation of children or adolescents above the minimum age for admission to employment in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling, is generally regarded as being something positive. This includes activities such as assisting in a family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays. These kinds of activities contribute to children’s development and to the welfare of their families; they provide them with skills and experience, and help to prepare them to be productive members of society during their adult life.

The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that:

• is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/or
• interferes with their schooling by: depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.

Whether or not particular forms of “work” can be called “child labour” depends on the child’s age, the type and hours of work performed, the conditions under which it is performed and the objectives pursued by individual countries. The answer varies from country to country, as well as among sectors within countries.

* CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA:

 The term ‘child labour’ and ‘working children’ have different connotations, but both the terms are used interchangeably on account of limitations of the available datasets. CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA ©ILO As per Census 2011, the total child population in India in the age group (5-14) years is 259.6 million. Of these, 10.1 million (3.9% of total child population) are working, either as ‘main worker’ or as ‘marginal worker’. In addition, more than 42.7 million children in India are out of school. However, the good news is that the incidence of child labour has decreased in India by 2.6 million between 2001 and 2011. However, the decline was more visible in rural areas, while the number of child workers has increased in urban areas, indicating the growing demand for child workers in menial jobs. Child labour has different ramifications in both rural and urban India. 

* STATES WITH HIGH INCIDENCES OF CHILD LABOUR;

Together, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh constitute nearly 55% of total working children in India.

* WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP CHILD LABOUR:

1. Spread awareness

Parental awareness of the evils of child labor can prevent disruption in schooling and pushing of children into labor. Lack of understanding on the part of parents creates situations where traffickers prey upon children and many trafficked children end up in child labor. Aware communities can comprehend and respond to children’s issues much more effectively. Awareness also ensures that communities tap growth, education, employment, and enterprise opportunities and create a socially and economically developed society in which children suffer much less. NGOs use community events, sports, arts and theatre to educate communities about the importance of child rights.. NGOs also create income resources, educational resources, and access to information services – all with an aim to help children and their communities march ahead.

2. More stringent laws and effective implementation

Policymaking is essential to long lasting social change, and lobbying for better laws involves demonstrating how change can bring considerable benefit. NGOs research, and showcase findings regarding exploited children, and use case studies to establish how their work benefits children. Driving policy-level change requires relationships with several stakeholders – media, lawmakers, citizens, fellow civil society members, etc. Many cases have been filed under the recent Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act (2012) and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, which have successfully translated in increased convictions, demonstrating how legislating can curb child traffiking. NGOs also maintain coordination with district and state level authorities for a vigilant eye on the implementation of pro-child laws.

3. Sending more children to school

India has the world’s largest educational system, yet faces the hurdles of low literacy, due to low enrolment. Organisations like Save the Children execute several initiatives to boost children’s enrolment in schools. The organisation maps out-of-school children and those who are at risk of dropping out and ensures that they enter into the fold of education.

Save the Children’s child education achievements includes the following:

• Creating ‘Inclusive Learner Friendly Environments’ (ages 3-18 years) across settings as diverse as slums and villages
• Create a dialogue with children and families to send children to school, provide admissions assistance
• Create fun, meaningful experiences in school, with child-friendly and interactive teaching-learning methods
• Generate funding for, and establish libraries and infrastructure like computers, sports equipment and Mobile Learning Centres
• Successfully bringing back out-of-school children (dropouts and both never-been-to-school children), street children, and child laborers to school

3. Discouraging people to employ children in homes, shops, factories, etc

Child labor gets a resounding approval when Indian businesses openly use it, in industries like retail, hospitality, and menial work. NGOs today sensitise trade organisations to end this social evil, and educate locals about reporting instances of child labor at businesses and homes. Save the Children has to its credit getting India’s biggest IT market declared child labor-free.

4. Supporting NGOs like Save the Children

Save the Children offers immediate aid to victims of child labor, while also working for long-term societal change through policy change. The NGO works to ensure that existing policies are followed through with action. It has rescued 9337 children from child labor, in pan-India ongoing relief and rescue missions. Present in 120 countries, Save the Children focuses on education and a new life of millions of children affected by armed conflict and exploitation. The NGO works with state and national level authorities, including Police departments of states to prevent child exploitation incidence in states such as Punjab, Delhi, Bihar, J&K, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam where vulnerability of children is high.

5. Conclusion

Initiatives from civil society have given lakhs of children the means of living dignified life where, they can cherish their childhood. Save the Children has forged powerful relationship with government, national and International bodies to make child rights a “movement”. Fighting child labor requires a multi-pronged push, and there is a need to make this a people’s issue. While officials and government can only institute policies, ignoring everyday child abuse and malnourishment must also be attacked at an individual level, wherever possible – so.

                             THANK YOU