Estimates say that worldwide there are 217million children engaged in child labour. That adds up to one in ten children. A child is defined as a person below 14years of age.
India lacks up-to-date data on child labour. One has to depend on 2011 Census report. According to that report, there were10.20 million working children age between 5 and 14. That is, out of 260 million children.
India’s definition of Child Labour, according to 2011 Census, is that child labour is participation of a child under 17 years of age in any economically productive activity with or without compensation, wages or profit.
Indian legislations have provided safety nets against crimes of child labour. The Factories Act, 1948 prohibits the employment f children below 14 in any factory. The Mines Act, 1952 similarly prohibits employment of children in mines.
According to Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, a child is defined as any person below the age of 14. The Act prohibits employment of a child in any labour including domestic labour (except helping one’s own family). The crime is cognizable (arrest without warrant).
Right of children to free ad Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Later it was made a fundamental right under Art 21 (Right to life) of the Constitution. According to the law, free and compulsory education to all children age 6 to 16 is to be compulsorily provided.
Children have the fundamental right of a happy and secure family life. They deserve parental love and care as they grow up. They need to have economic sufficiency for their needs. When they are employed they lose such fundamental rights and privileges of a happy life, right to education and progress towards a wholesome future.
Many children are forced to work due to lack of financial security at home. Even when the law provides free and compulsory education for children, economically insecure families may force children into full time or, at least, part time work. Many are reportedly stolen or kidnapped from families and forced into becoming g child beggars. Some are trained as pick pockets by anti-socials. Some work as domestic labour while many are forced into child prostitution by touts and agents. In war zones they are forced into acting as child soldiers. We see many children working in shops and industries where labour enforcement agencies may be kept away with a handsome pittance.
The laws are there. But implementation is the problem. For most labour officers, labour area is a haven to mint money and hence, they look away when it to comes to inspection and action.
If we care for the future of the nation, we have to begin to care for the children here and now.
