Horrors of Child Labor

Author-Simran Talwar

In this article, Simran Talwar shares her views on the issue of child labor.

“Today’s children are tomorrow’s future” is a commonly held idea in the society. Children are often considered to be the future of our country, carrying on their shoulders the heavy-weighted responsibility of bringing prosperity and development in the coming years. However, as we all know, children also form a large part of the vulnerable sections of the society, often exploited in unimaginable ways.

One such form of exploitation is the globally present phenomenon of child labor. Although numerous laws and policies have been enacted to eradicate child labor throughout the world, the system has more or less been unsuccessful in doing so.

Defining Child Labor

Child labor is a globally recognized punishable crime against the rights of children, wherein children below the age of 14 are employed, taking a heavy toll on their physical and mental development while imposing a significant pressure to support their families. At an age where children are expected to seek education, attain cultural values, grow, and play, such heinous acts of child labor are known to create hindrances. Thus, to cater to this problem efficiently, both international and domestic laws have been brought into place. However, despite standing for multiple developmental, statutory, and constitutional measures to protect children, the world is still home to a surprisingly huge number of child laborers.

One major example of the same can be witnessed in the biggest democracy of the world, India.

Causes of Child Labor

Child labor is often backed by a series of economical and social issues. However, some of the most commonly cited causes behind child labor include poverty, ignorance of parents, high rates of unemployment, lack of awareness, and discrimination. Studies reflect that a large number of families living below the poverty line often choose to encourage young children of their households to take up jobs as a medium of supporting their livelihood.

Additionally, children who are unable to attend schools and young girls belonging to the disadvantaged sections of the society are most vulnerable to child labor.

Effects of Child Labor

Child laborers are likely to work in dingy and unkempt environments that may range from mines to households where they are often mistreated by the employers. Injuries and accidents are common. In addition to this, children often become victims of sexual abuse, physical and emotional neglect, alcoholism, and drug abuse.

They miss out on opportunities of education and upon being forced to spend most of their childhood in confined workplaces, develop body deformities and stunted mental and physical growth.

Child Labor In India

Child labor is widely prevalent in India wherein young boys and girls can be seen working in dangerous areas including mines, factories, and industries. Great hints of discrimination can also be witnessed in these cases wherein boys are mostly engaged in intense physical labor while girls are seen as helpers.

The most profound impact of child labor can be seen on the country’s economic welfare that is evidently slowed down to a significant extent. The main reason behind this is the inability of children to work as efficiently as adults while simultaneously being deprived from educational opportunities to work in other possible fields.

Child Labor Laws In India

Some acts and articles listed in the constitution of India to eradicate child labor include Article 21A, Article 24, Article 39, and the Child Labor Act of 1986.

While the Child Labor Act of 1986 along with Article 24 prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 years in hazardous locations including mines and factories, Article 39 lays down the responsibility of ensuring that the tender age of children is not abused and no economic strains force them into working.

Article 21A has made education free and compulsory for all children below the age of 14 years. Labor committees and commissions have also gone to the core of this problem and made recommendations while the supreme court of India has given empathetic responses against the act of child labor.

It can thus be acknowledged that a proactive policy has been adopted by the country but to what extent has its implementation been successful is questionable.

Success or Failure of Child Laws in India

Recent data suggests that the number of child laborers in the country has decreased from 1.2 crores to 47 lakhs for boys and 94 lakhs to 43 lakhs for girls. The gender differences too that were most widely seen in the 1980’s have gone down. However, in absolute numbers the problem is still large. This can be said with surety as the number of active child laborers in the country still account to more than 1 crores.

Recommended Solutions to Eradicate Child Labor

In world economies where child labor has been stopped, multi-pronged strategies have been put to use. This includes changes in the educational systems to generate proper awareness, stricter laws and policies, and redefining the entire concept of child labor.

In India too some measures that can be adopted include amendments in the Child Labor Act of 1986. It has been recommended that the word ‘regulation’ be removed and it be made a non-negotiable act. Stricter policies are also required. The present National Child Labor Programme must be revamped and converted into Transitional Education Centers. This is likely to benefit more than 45 lakh children.

Social mobilization and community participation is also vital to ensure that children are not exploited through child labor.

Summing Up

With child labor posing a huge problem in today’s society, it’s important for not only the governmental bodies and institutions to take initiatives but also individuals on a personal level. To protect young and tender minds from falling into vicious cycles of child labor, we as responsible citizens must do our part too! While creating community awareness and keeping a check on our surroundings, it is important that we ourselves do not employ children below the age of 14 years.

Until steps on an individual level followed by proper implementation of government policies in this direction are taken, the children of India and other developing nations of the world may continue to remain caught up in the exploitative act.