MAHARISHI ARVIND INSTITUTE

OF SCIENCE & MANAGEMENT

{Group 5}
SHUBHAM SANJEEV
SIDDHI KHANDELWAL
SNEHA GUPTA
SOHAIL KHAN
SUJAL SONI
SUMIT KUMAWAT
TANISHKA KUMAWAT
THIS PROJECT

This project is an exploration of the pervasive issue of child labour in India, a

problem that continues to affect millions of children across the country. The
objective of this study is to provide an in-depth understanding of the current state
of child labour in India, assess the prevailing conditions, and review the extensive
body of literature, reports, and articles that have been written on this topic. By
synthesizing these sources, this project aims to present a comprehensive view of
the issue and suggest possible ways to mitigate and ultimately eradicate child
labour.

The primary method employed in this research is secondary data analysis,

utilizing information readily available on the internet, including reports, articles,
and newspaper publications. This data has been carefully reviewed to understand
the multi-dimensional aspects of child labour, such as its causes, consequences,
and the existing governmental and non-governmental interventions aimed at
addressing it.

As the project progressed, it became evident that while significant strides have
been made in raising awareness and implementing solutions, the problem of child
labour remains deeply entrenched. However, the conclusion drawn from this
study is hopeful: various initiatives, both governmental and societal, are currently
in place, showing promise in reducing the prevalence of child labour in India.

I would like to express my gratitude to all those whose work has shaped this
research, especially the authors, activists, and organizations dedicated to the
cause of child welfare and labour rights. Their contributions have been invaluable
in helping me gain a broader perspective on the subject.

Ultimately, this project aims not only to present the challenges but also to
highlight the solutions that can bring about meaningful change. I hope it will
serve as a catalyst for further discussions and actions to create a child labour-free
society in India.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have supported
and guided us throughout the completion of this project.

First and foremost, we extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Jyoti Tepan, our project
guide, for her constant guidance, valuable insights, and encouragement. Her
expertise in the subject and unwavering support have been instrumental in
shaping this research. We deeply appreciate her patience and her thoughtful
feedback, which have enhanced the quality of our work.

We would also like to convey our gratitude to Ms. Rubina Sajid, the Head of the
Department, for her continuous support and for providing us with the opportunity
to undertake this important project. Her leadership and direction have created a
conducive environment for learning and research, and we are thankful for her
encouragement throughout this process.

A special thank you to all the authors, researchers, and organizations whose work
we have referenced in this project. Their contributions have played a significant
role in broadening our understanding of child labor and its complexities in India.

Lastly, we are grateful to our family and friends for their understanding and
support during the course of this research.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed, directly or indirectly, to the

successful completion of this project.
 CONTENT
1. Introduction
a) What is child Labour?
b) History of Child labour in India
c) Reasons for Child Labour
d) Child Labour in Statistics
2. Literatures and Reviews
3. Objectives of the Study
4. Research Gap
5. Research Methodology
6. Situation analysis of child labour
7. Problems of child labour
8. Causes of child labour
9. Consequences of child labour
10. Reasons for increase in child
labour
11. Government measures for tackling
the problem of child labour
12. Role of international organisation
in fighting child labour
13. National policy on child labour
14. Assessment of child labour
15. Suggestion for elimination of child
labour
16. Child labour case study
17. Conclusion
What is Child Labour?
Children are the greatest gift to humanity and Childhood is an important stage of human
development as it holds the potential to the future development of any society. Children who
are brought up in an environment, which is favourable to their intellectual, physical and social
health, grow up to be responsible and productive members of society. Every nation links its
future with the present status of its children. Due to child labour, children excessively reduce
their present welfare or their future
income earning capabilities, either by
shrinking their future external choice
sets or by reducing their own future
individual productive capabilities.
Under extreme economic distress,
children are forced to forego educational
opportunities and take up jobs which are
mostly exploitative as they are usually
underpaid and engaged in hazardous conditions. Parents decide to send their child for engaging
in a job as a desperate measure due to poor economic conditions. It is therefore no wonder that
the poor households send their children to work in early ages of their life. One of the
unfavourable aspects of child labour is that children are sent to work at the expense of
education. There is a strong effect of child labour on school attendance rates and the length of
a child’s work day is negatively associated with his or her capacity to attend school. Child
labour restricts the right of children to access and benefit from education and denies the
fundamental opportunity to attend school. Child labour, thus, prejudices children’s education
and adversely affects their health and safety. As per the knowledge of [Link] “Child
labour is the exploitation of children through any form of work that interferes with their ability
to attend regular school or is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful.” Child labour
is a legally prohibited activity in every nation. Unlike activities that help children develop,
child labour causes harm to a child’s health, safety or moral development. In its most insidious
forms, child labour can amount to slavery or practices similar to slavery, including the sale and
trafficking of children. In some places, children may be forcibly recruited into armed conflict,
used in the production and trafficking of drugs, or offered into prostitution.
History of Child Labour In India
The Child labour in India can be well understood by bifurcating it into three perspectives that
is: ancient, medieval and modern.

a) CHILD LABOUR IN ANCIENT PERIOD

As regard child labour in ancient India, it can be said that it existed in the form of child slaves.
Child slaves could be purchased or sold like commodities. To some extent, parents ‘obligations
were very often involved in working for the landlord on such low wages that it created
conditions for the child to work in the farms for wages. They remained as bonded labour in the
landlord‘s house along with the parents for repaying or minimizing the debt which their parents
had taken from landlord. Children, however, helped their parents in house-hold activities and
family crafts. They learnt the skills by observing and participating in such activities. A
predominantly rural society is inevitable characterized by small and marginal economic units.
The economic status of the slaves, hired labourers and unskilled workers was worse. The same
was the position of child when he was engaged in agricultural sector. It is revealed that child
labour in ancient India was very common and could be witnessed in different occupations
where they were engaged by the rich landlords to carryout activities directly or indirectly
related to their agriculture sector.

b) CHILD LABOUR IN MEDIEVAL PERIOD

Child Labour in medieval period was no exception. Increasing pressure on land led to
fragmentation of holdings. Growing families had to look beyond personal cultivation for
subsistence. A class of landless labourers came into existence, often bonded to the large
landowners. These labourers used their children to help in their economic activities. The rural
artisan rarely worked alone. Occupations were determined largely on the basis of heredity, and
children were introduced to their traditional craft at a young age. Child labour in medieval
India remained in existence on a large scale and even the rulers encourage it with an intention
to make only traffic in child slaves. The child labour was found in the form of child slavery
and rulers did not endeavour to weed out this practice and hence the result was that child was
always exploited for this selfish ends.

c) CHILD LABOUR IN MODERN ERA

Children have always been used in economic activities. In pro-capitalist and socialist states
including India, children were employed in guild and in trade occupations. In these societies,
their workplace was an extension of the home and work relationships were informal
relationship. The child grew up and found work within the family where the child was not
given hazardous and difficult task. Work was a central aspect of their socialization and
training. This conception, however, underwent a dynamic change with the advent of capitalism
in the industrialization during the 18th century and child labour began to be designated as a
social problem. The new economic forces unleashed by capitalism destroyed the family-based
economy. A large number of labourers were displaced due to mechanisation of agriculture –
the farmers were alienated from their homebased work place. They became wage-earning
labourers. Extreme poverty created a situation in which the child had to be introduced in the
labour market, lack of alternative employment for adults and lack of education for children
reinforced this process. The data on sectoral look in various occupation of child labour is taken
from Census [Link] is observed from the above table that child labour is more pronounced in
urban areas with 15.55% in agriculture and 12.31% in manufacturing in rural areas. The
minimum child labour with 1.71% in urban and 1.22% in rural in electric, gas and water is
observed.
Basic reasons for Child Labour
The causes of child labour are numerous and vary from one country to another and from one
economic sector to another. Several common main causes can however be identified:

• Poverty is a determining factor of child labour. Poor families

send their children to work (or ask them to work in the family
business), because they don’t have enough income and nor do
they have access to decent work.

• Because it has been with us for so long people can start seeing child labour as an
‘acceptable’ tradition which of course it is not! In this
environment families are happy to receive the income that the
child labour generates and employers see themselves as
providing a social service. What of course is required is an
economic and social environment.

• Very often, working children are a cheap workforce reservoir.

In some areas, the significant availability of child workers undermines decent working
conditions for adult workers, keeping wages low and making it even harder for families
to meet their economic needs.

• Informal work encourages the development of child labour

as it lacks both regulation and inspections.

• Lack of quality education limits the chances of the child

worker to escape from the cycle of poverty. Educational gaps
impact on child labourers as they move into adulthood as low
levels of literacy and vocational qualifications deprive them of
decent work opportunities not allowing them to get out from
poverty.

• Discrimination in terms of gender and socio-economic status

can be identified as one of the main causes of Child Labour.

• Armed conflicts is another important cause of child labour. Children are more
vulnerable and can be enlisted as child soldiers or used in military operations.
Child Labour In Statistics
Global Scenario
According to the report published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF
on 10 June 2021, the number of children working in child labour has increased by 8.4 million
in the last four years to 160 million worldwide. Another 9 million children are at risk due to
the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report points out that there has been a significant
increase in the number of child workers aged 5 to 11, who currently account for more than half
of the number of child workers in the world. The number of children aged 5 to 17 working in
hazardous jobs, defined as work that may harm the health, safety or morals of children, has
increased by 6.5 million to 79 million since 2016.

The 16-year period starting in 2000 saw a net reduction of 94 million in children in child labour.
The number of children in hazardous work fell by more than half over the same period. But
progress slowed during 2012 to 2016. The reduction in the number of children in child labour
amounted to 16 million for the 2012 to 2016 period, just one third of the 47 million reductions
recorded during 2008 to 2012. The decline in hazardous work slowed in a similar fashion.

Africa ranks highest both in the percentage of children in child labour – one-fifth – and the
absolute number of children in child labour 92 million. Asia and the Pacific ranks second
highest in both these measures 5.6 per cent of all children, 49 million in absolute terms, are in
child labour in this region. The remaining child labour population is divided among the
Americas (8.3 million), Europe and Central Asia (8.3 million), and the Arab States (2.4
million).

The agricultural sector accounts for by far the largest share of child labour. The sector accounts
for 70 per cent of all those in child labour and for 112 million children in absolute terms.
Children in child labour in the services and industry sectors number 31.4 million and 16.5
million, respectively.

Children aged 5 to 11 years form the largest share of those in child labour and also form a
substantial share of those in hazardous work. Forty-eight per cent of all those in child labour
are in the 5–11 years age bracket, 28 per cent are aged 12–14 years, and 25 per cent fall into
the 15–17 years age range.
Source: Global Estimates 2020, Trends and the Road Forward, International Labour
Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund (2021)

Indian Scenario
Evidence drawn from the National Sample Survey data suggest that India’s child workforce
during 2004-05 was estimated at little over nine million (9.07 million) as against twenty-one
and half million (21.55 million) in 1983. During this period, the number of child employment
has declined sharply by 12.48 million. There is considerable fall in child workforce is observed
among boys than girls. The corresponding fall in boys and girls workforce during 1983 to 2004-
05 is observed to have decreased from 12.06 to 4.76 million, and 9.49 to 4.31 million,
respectively. In effect, the gender difference that existed between boys and girls (adverse
against boys) during the early 1980s has almost dissipated in recent years, the difference being
slowed down from 2.57 million to roughly 0.45 million. However, in absolute numbers, the
problem is large. As per the Census 2001, there are 1.26 crores economically active children
in the age-group of 5-14 years. It was 1.13 crores in the 1991 Census.
LITERATURES
There are 160 million children waiting for your action. How long will they have to wait?” asked
Kinsu Kumar, a survivor of child labour and rights advocate, while speaking at a panel
organised on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour. Mr. Kumar started working at
the age of six, sometimes as a car cleaner, and other times as a domestic help, to contribute to
the income of his family, who lived in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur. A similar story plays out for
one in 10 children globally. Child labour — a form of modern slavery — includes any work
that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that harms their
physical or mental development, per the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition.
The practice includes, and is not limited to, trafficking, sexual exploitation, debt bondage, and
exploitation in armed conflicts. 12% of those in forced labour are possibly children, ILO
[Link] trafficking manifests in the form of domestic labour, forced child labour across
industries, and illegal activities such as begging, organ trade and commercial sex purposes.
Several reports since the 2020 lockdown have noted that the pandemic created a second crisis
of child trafficking, with children being pushed into a vortex of “despair, disease and death.”
Estimates show that children account for one in every three detected victims of trafficking
worldwide; this rises to one in two in low-income countries. India, meanwhile, has pledged to
eliminate child labour by 2025. – SAUMYA KALIA, THE HINDU

REVIEW
The narrative of Kinsu Kumar, a survivor who is now an advocate, who began working at the
age of six to support his family, serves as a stark reminder of the terrible realities of child labour
and trafficking. One in ten children worldwide are subjected to child labour, which deprives
them of their youth, potential, and dignity and frequently causes trauma that lasts a lifetime.
These problems have been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to minors
being further exploited in a variety of illicit activities and industries, particularly in low-income
areas. The International Labour Organisation reports that children make up one-third of all
trafficking victims globally, with that number rising to half in developing nations. In order to
break these patterns of exploitation and safeguard the future of vulnerable children worldwide,
India has committed to ending child labour by 2025. This is an ambitious objective that calls
for strong legislation, support networks, and public awareness.
Though the pandemic has amplified its contributing factors, policy and programmatic
interventions can save children The true extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
child labour is yet to be measured but all indications show that it would be significant as
children are unable to attend school and parents are unable to find work. However, not all the
factors that contribute to child labour were created by the pandemic; most of them were pre-
existing and have been exposed or amplified by it. What the data show As the world enters the
third decade of the 21st century, 152 million children around the world are still in child labour,
73 million of them in hazardous work. A Government of India survey (NSS Report No. 585,
2017-18, Statement 3.12, p.35) suggests that 95% of the children in the age group of 6-13 years
are attending educational institutions (formal and informal) while the corresponding figures for
those in the age group of 14-17 years is 79.6%. Hence, a large number of children in India
remain vulnerable, facing physical and psychological risks to a healthy development. The
Census of India 2011 reports 10.1 million working children in the age group of 5-14 years, out
of whom 8.1 million are in rural areas mainly engaged as cultivators (26%) and agricultural
labourers (32.9%). While multiple data vary widely on enrolment/attendance ratios in India,
UNESCO estimates based on the 2011 Census record 38.1 million children as “out of school”
(18.3% of total children in the age group of 6-13 years). Work performed may not appear to be
immediately dangerous, but it may produce long-term and devastating consequences for their
education, their skills acquisition, and hence their future possibilities to overcome the vicious
circle of poverty, incomplete education and poor quality jobs. A Rapid Survey on Children
(2013-14), jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and UNICEF,
found that less than half of children in the age group of 10-14 years have completed primary
education. These remain challenges we must overcome. – DAGMER WALTER, THE HINDU

REVIEW
Child labour has been made worse by the COVID-19 epidemic, which has brought attention to
pre-existing problems like poverty and limited access to school that fuel this catastrophe.
According to a 2017–18 Government of India survey, 95% of children aged 6–13 attend school,
while for those aged 14–17, attendance declines to 79.6%, leaving them at risk of exploitation.
According to 2011 census data, 10.1 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are
employed, mostly in rural agriculture. According to UNESCO, 38.1 million children between
the ages of 6 and 13 are not attending school, which increases the dangers due to long-term
effects on education, skills, and employment prospects. Even once the pandemic is ended,
addressing these issues—such as poverty and educational barriers—is crucial to ending the
cycles that support child work.

In addition to increase in the amount of fines, stricter punishments, including cancellation of

license and attachment of property, are needed to protect the interests of children, panel’s report
says The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, headed by senior Biju Janata Dal
(BJP) MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, tabled a detailed report on the implementation of the Centre’s
policy on child labour in Parliament on December 20. The report, titled ‘National Policy on
Child Labour - An Assessment’, states the country has a long way to go in eliminating child
labour, and requires changes to the policies and laws that govern the issue. The 582-page report
touches upon almost all aspects of the issue, and recommends various Ministries of the Centre
and the States take coordinated steps to address it. The panel has recommended that
discrepancies in the criteria for determination of the age of the child in various Acts, as well as
the provisions of offence being cognisable/non-cognisable under the Child and Adolescent
Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Act, 2015 be examined to ensure they did not lead to any ambiguity or delay in
securing justice for aggrieved children. The panel has also recommended that, in addition to
the three-four times increase in the amount of fine, stricter punishment in the form of
cancellation of license, attachment of property, etc., needed to be incorporated to protect the
interests of children. “This may require amendment in the Act, which the [Union Labour]
Ministry should pursue in order to have zero tolerance on child labour,” the report said. The
panel said the number of working children has decreased from 1.26 crore (as per 2001 census)
to 1.01 crore (as per 2011 census), and the number of working children in the age group of
five-14 years has also decreased from 57.79 lakh (as per 2001 census) to 43.53 lakh (as per
2011 census).The panel said the Ministry of Labour does not conduct any survey to ascertain
the number of child labourers across the country and consider this data as child labour data.
“The Ministry have also categorically stated that no proposal is under their consideration to
develop a mechanism to maintain child labour data except depending on census data,” the
report said, and urged the Ministry to take up collecting data on children between 14 to 18
years during the next Census exercise with the Ministry of Home Affairs so as to have reliable
data on children and adolescents, which would not only help in formulating policies but also
devising an action plan for eliminating child labour.“Since census exercise is conducted after
a period of ten years and for 2021, it is yet to commence, the Committee impress upon the
Ministry of Labour & Employment to conduct periodic survey particularly in urban areas to
identify child labours, as assured by the representatives of the Ministry during oral evidence,”
the report added. The panel also asked the Centre to direct States conduct surveys to identify
child labour, collect and furnish enforcement data, along with their suggestions to address the
problem. The panel said, in addition to the employer, the accountability of the principal
employer and traffickers should be fixed. Considering the prevalence of child labour at present,
the panel said, it is practically not possible to meet the international commitment to eliminate
child labour by 2025.“As action taken today will determine the future of children of tomorrow,
the Committee impress upon the Ministry to take up the issue in a mission mode and devise a
systematic action plan based policy to meet international commitments, which are not only
relevant for economic development of the country but will also brighten the image of the
country in international forum,” the panel said. – THE HINDU BUREAU

REVIEW

India urgently needs stronger child work regulations, according to a report by the Parliamentary
Standing Committee on work, which is chaired by BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab. According to
the paper "National Policy on Child Labour – An Assessment," offenders should face harsher
penalties, licence suspensions, and property attachment. In order to keep impacted children
from experiencing delays in justice, it further urges that age requirements be standardised
across all statutes. Notwithstanding the decline in child work since 2001, the Committee
pointed out that the Ministry of work lacked up-to-date data collection methods and
recommended regular surveys, particularly in cities, to track trends in child labour. The paper
highlights that India will have difficulty achieving the global goal of eliminating child labour
by 2025 and calls for a mission-mode strategy to protect children's futures and enhance India's
reputation abroad.
A recent Supreme Court ruling reframes the watching and downloading of child porn as a
serious crime, rather than an adult indulgence. The historic judgment against the online sexual
abuse of children, pronounced by the Supreme Court of India in a petition filed by the Just
Rights for Children Alliance, will have a long lasting and global impact on society, crime, and
child rights. In January 2024, the Madras High Court had ruled that “merely” downloading or
watching child pornography is not a crime, and quashed a case against a 28-year-old man. How
can someone who searches for and watches the rape of a child, thereby creating a demand for
child rape, walk free? This ruling not only defeated the spirit of the Protection of Children from
Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, but also risked normalising the exploitation of children.
On September 23, the Supreme Court corrected this grave oversight. It was not only just in
expanding the understanding and scope of the crime by making downloading and storage of
such material an offence, but also mandated a comprehensive framework to combat Child
Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) and placed strict responsibilities on social
media intermediaries to comply with Indian law. By shifting the language from child porn to
CSEAM, the ruling reframes the issue as a serious crime, rather than an adult indulgence. It
further establishes that individuals who search for or download such material create a demand-
supply chain that fuels the rape and exploitation of children. – THE HINDU

REVIEW
In contrast to the Madras High Court's previous finding that found viewing or downloading
child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) to be non-criminal, the Supreme Court
of India's current ruling reframes these activities as serious crimes. The Supreme Court's ruling,
which was in response to a petition filed by the Just Rights for Children Alliance, expands the
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by making it illegal to view and
keep child abuse videos and acknowledging that they contribute to the demand for child
exploitation. In addition to requiring stricter enforcement mechanisms and holding social
media companies responsible to Indian law, this landmark ruling challenges the normalisation
of such content and upholds children's rights and society's protection against exploitation.
Brick kiln owners must provide local police with list of all migrant worker children at their
sites under new strictures; apart from ending child labour, they must provide creches and ensure
school admission. At hundreds of brick kilns across the country, children as young as six years
can be seen working alongside their migrant worker parents, laboriously turning over the raw
bricks drying under the merciless sun, losing their childhoods for a life of drudgery. In the
Bhubaneswar-Cuttack area, however, the local police are now imposing a new ‘code of
conduct’ to hold brick kiln owners accountable for ensuring the children are removed from
their worksites and admitted to school. In the four stages of brick-making — soil preparation,
molding, drying and burning — children play a critical role in the third stage. Within the
industry, it is argued that this job cannot be undertaken by adult men and women, as they cannot
step on the raw bricks which would crumble under the pressure of their weight. “On an average,
a group of three persons can mold around 1,000 to 1,200 bricks a day and spread the bricks on
the ground for sun baking. Now, the work of a child is very important to flip these 1,000 bricks
twice a day under testing conditions,” said Umi Daniel, head of the migration unit of Aide et
Action, an international non-governmental organisation which is collaborating with UNICEF
and the State government to implement the program. – SATYASUNDAR BARIK

REVIEW
Brick kiln owners are required by new laws in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack to notify the police of
any migrant worker children at their locations, make sure the children are taken off the job, and
assist with their school enrolment. Children, frequently as young as six, have historically
assisted in the drying stage of the brick-making process in India by flipping raw bricks, a work
that is challenging for adults because of the bricks' fragility. Every day, a normal team may
mould 1,000 to 1,200 bricks, and kids are crucial to the drying process. In addition to addressing
the welfare and educational requirements of the children, the new "code of conduct," which is
backed by Aide et Action, UNICEF, and the State, attempts to stop child labour and offer safe
spaces and educational support through creches.
 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
• Explore Prevalence: Investigate the current extent of child labour globally and in India.
• Analyse Causes: Identify and analyse the socio-economic factors contributing to child
labour, including poverty and lack of education.
• Historical Context: Provide a historical overview of child labour in ancient, medieval, and
modern India.
• Examine Consequences: Highlight the negative impacts of child labour on children's health,
education, and development.
• Societal Implications: Discuss the broader societal and economic consequences of child
labour, including its effect on poverty and human rights.
• Raise Awareness: Increase awareness about the ongoing challenges related to child labour
and the need for effective interventions.
• Promote Child Rights: Emphasize the importance of protecting children's rights and
ensuring their access to education and safe environments.
 RESEARCH GAP
• Many of the aspects of child labour have been untouched due to lack of means to
collect data.
• The raw data at ground level has remain untouched.
• The mentioned statistical data are of till 2011. There is a information gap of more than
a decade.
• As living in a urban area, the aspects of rural area has been untouched.
• Our data of child labour as prostitutes also been uncovered.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research design of this paper is based on descriptive studies. The study is truly based on
secondary data. First objective is directly extracted from internet. Observation method is used
to know the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. To justify the statistical data, we have used
analytical term. The analytical study is based on the data of last five decades from 1971 to
2011. Further we have conducted the review of literatures collected from the census surveys,
reports, newspapers, journals, websites, etc.
SITUATION ANALYSIS OF CHILD LABOUR
Magnitude of child labour in India

The magnitude of child labour in india has been witnessing enormous decline in last two
decades, both in terms of magnitude and workforce participation rates. Evidence drawn from
the National Sample survey data suggest that India’s child workforce during 2004-05 was
estimated at little over nine million (9.07 million) as against twenty-one and half million
(21.55 million) in 1983. During this period, the number of child employment has declined
sharply by 12.48 million. There is considerable fall in child workforce is observed among
boys than girls. The corresponding fall in boys and girls workforce during 1983 to 2004-05
is observed to have decreased from 12.06 to 4.76 million, and 9.49 to 4.31 million,
respectively. In effect, the gender difference that existed between boys and girls (adverse
against boys) during the early 1980s has almost dissipated in recent years, the difference
being slowed down from 2.57 million to roughly 0.45 million. However, in absolute
numbers, the problem is large. As per the Census 2001, there are 1.26 crores economically
active children in the
age-group of 5-14 years. It was 1.13 crores in the 1991 Census. The number of working
children in the major child labour endemic states as per the 1991 and 2001 Census is given
below:-

Sl. Name of the State/UT Census 1991 Census 2001

No.
1. Uttar Pradesh 1410086 1927997
2. Andhra Pradesh 1661940 1363339
3. Rajasthan 774199 1262570
4. Bihar 942245 1117500
5. Madhya Pradesh 1352563 1065259
6. West Bengal 711691 857087
7. Karnataka 976247 822615
8. Maharashtra 1068418 764075
9. Gujrat 523585 485530
10. Tamil Nadu 578889 418801
All India total 1.13 crores 1.26 crores
Among the states, Uttar Pradesh accounts for a larger share of close to one fourth of all child
labour in India followed by Andhra Pradesh. While Maharastra and West Bengal respectively
garnered nine and eight percent of India’s child employment. The share of Uttar Pradesh has
dramatically shot up in the last one decade from less than 13 per cent in the mid-1990s to
close to 23 per cent in 2004-05, which is a cause for serious concern. On the other hand the
share of Andhra Pradesh seems to have declined quite considerably during this period.

The occupation-wise data of children in this age group of 5-14 working in the non-
agricultural sector has been classified. Though these occupations in the Census data do not
match with the occupations listed as hazardous under the Child Labour (Prohibition &
Regulation) Act, a tentative segregation of data into hazardous & non- hazardous occupations
gives a broad estimation of children working in different occupations. As per this data, 36.43
country, out of which 12.19 lakh children are working in hazardous occupations. Their
distribution in some major hazardous occupations is given below:
Number of child workers (5-14 years) engaged in hazardous occupations as per 2001
census

1 Pan, Bidi & cigarettes 252574

2 Construction 208833
3 Domestic workers 185505
4 Spinning/ weaving 128984
5 Brick-kilns, tiles 84972
6 Dhabas/ Restaurants/ Hotels/ Motels 70934
7 Auto-workshop, vehicle repairs 49893
8 Gem-cutting, jewellery 37489

9 Carpet-making 32647
10 Ceramic 18894
11 Agarbati, Dhoop & Detergent making 13583
PROBLEMS OF CHILD LABOUR

Child labour is more a rural phenomena than an urban phenomena. Due to acute poverty poor
families residing in rural areas send their children to urban areas for bread and butte. In 13
urban areas to survive a competition, manufactures have lowered the real wages for adult
workers in order to employ. Child workers on low wages. The problem is very much vast in
its dimension. Children are forced to work in the most hazardous, unhygine conditions , where
they are vulnerable to many several health problems. In small trade industries , trades and
crafts. Using little or no machinery and power but employing a large number of workers. In
these factories, child workers are extensively employed.

Children work in industries in which child labour is prevented are wood and cork, furniture
and fixtures, printing and publishing and alied activities , lather products , rubber products,
transport equipment and personal services like laundries dying and cleaning . countless children
are employed as domestic servants , workers in hotels, wayside shops and establishments,
hawkers and news papers, sellers, ice cream and sweet venders ,shop polishing , helpers in
services stations and repair shops . They are often hired along with their parents in construction
works and take part in loading, un loading and breaking stones.
Children work in dangerously polluted factories whose brick walls are searved with black
powder in smoke and there is same an appersive smell in the air. They work near furnaces
which burn at a temperature of 14000 degree centigreate. They handle dangerous chemicals
like arsenic and potassium. They works in glass blowing units, where the work experts their
bodies and creates diseases like TB, eye disease, asthma, bronchitis and black aches. Among
the working children many are the main or major wage earners in the family who always
remain workers about 14 feeding their dependents . The migrant children labours whose
parents live in some far including nights, when the factories are fully functional are paid not
more than Rs. 500 per month. They hand over all their to their guardian who do not give
them a rupee a day for tea during the night shifts. There are times when bodies ache, minds
far, hearts cry but one order of the employer.

A visit to several factories in Delhi, Tamilnadu, Andhrapradesh, Maharastrra reveals that a

large number of child workers have sunken chest and thin borne frames, which give them a fragil
look. They looks like rock dolls, unwashed and scarggly , they wear coarse and tailored cloths.
Must of these children come from extremely poor households. They are either school dropouts
or have not seen any school at all. The earn a very meager wage and work in most unsafe
conditions.

In the Country child prostitutes also become a common phenomena .

Thus , may have been rubbed of their childhood life rather they are forced to live in destitute
conditions.
CAUSES OF CHILD LABOUR

Chronic poverty has been identified as the most important factor for the prevalence and
perpetuation of child labour in India. Poor parents believe that children can provide them the
best economic assets. Further, children can raise no voice when they are employed in factories
and therefore they can be best exploited. The other reason for the ever increasing child labour
is said to be, the accelerated pace of mechanization of agriculture which pushes 15 the surplus
farm labour to the cities in search of livelihood. A survey conducted by the commission of
child labour in Calcutta revealed that socio economic conditions of the families compelled
children to come in search of employment in urban sectors. Thus, child labour is the result of
poverty and unemployment.

The problem of child labour is complex one. There are many causes of
child labour. These causes are discussed as under:

1. ECONOMIC CAUSE:

In a country like India, 40% of the population is living in the condition of

extreme Poverty. Children work out of necessity and without their earning ,the
standard of living of their family would decline .Low incomes of the family
,economic insecurity ,chronic diseases, ancestral ineptness are the inevitable

factors. The children either supplement their parents’ income. With the collapse of
the rural economy and the disintegration of joint family system, large scale
industrialization and the consequent erosion of agriculture economy compel the
rural families and the children to find monetary resource to maintain the family.
Unregulated industries take advantage of the situation and employ large number
of children at very low wage.
2. INTEREST FOR CHEAP LABOURS:

Another important of child labour is that they are deliberately created to get cheap
labour. The owners of the industries want to get more profit by engaging children
as labourers. Because the owners give wage to child labours. Child labour is
beneficial to industries.
3. EMPLOYERS JUSTIFICATION:

Employers of child labour give certain justifications for employing children to

support their guilt feelings. They say that the works keeps children away from
starvation. They are also prevented from committing crime which they would
 have indulged in if they had no jobs. It is also a fact that poor parents are not able
to give education to their children. Hence , they do not send their children to
schools. The children who do not go to school move here and there with bad
companies. In order to keep them away from bad and antisocial activities the
parents engage their children in certain work.
4. FAILURE OF GOVERNMENT MACHINERY:

Another cause of child labour is the failure of government machinery. There is a

nexus between the personal of labour department and the owners. Government has
not been able to provide alternative to child labour who do not have any family
income or support.
5. FAMILY CONDITION:

Family condition is also responsible for child labour. Faulty socialization,

violence in family and lack of care etc. are the causes of child labour
CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD LABOUR
Child labour in general is a great social ill and a national waste, as the economic
necessity for wage earning to support the family, deprives the child of an opportunity
for education, play and recreation, stunts his physical growth,
interferes with the normal development of child‘s personality and thwarts his
preparation for responsibility. The hazards suffered by the child workers are of no
one's concern.
A. HEALTH HAZARDS

• Tuberculosis and bronchitis

• Muscle atrophy

• Weakening and malformation of bones

• Eye diseases

• Stunted growth

• Finger Arthritis

• Damage to the finger nails

• Excessive fatigue and malnutrition effects, functioning of endocrine glands

B. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EVIL

a) Child labour gives birth to numerous economic problems such as the use of labour
at its lowest productivity implying thereby an inefficient utilization of labour power.
b) The practice of employing children permits unfair competition with adult labour
with the result that there may be an excessive unemployment of adult labour, low
wages and less satisfactory working conditions.
c) Child labour tends to interfere with normal family life and encourages the
breakdown of the social order; child used to early economic independence starts an
early sex life acquiring venereal diseases and addition to intoxicants. Generally,
he/she also marries young and starts early procreation.
d) The worst effect of child labour is that it interferes with their education and
minimizes the chances for their vocational development. They neither acquire any
skill nor do they receive any education thereby condemning them to a status of
illiterate, oppressed and trampled worker for the rest of their lives.
e) The effects of poor and unsafe working conditions on working children take the
form of fatal accidents that result in deformities. The vulnerability of children is
increased by them high incidence of malnutrition and under-nourishment and making
them less resistant to debilitating diseases.
f) Children in some work situations are exposed to physical and mental abuse. This
involves long and often permanent separation from parents and isolation, sometimes
amounting to virtual imprisonment and physical cruelty. Child participation in labour
force activity reduces the potential for schooling and educational development. Given
the low educational or skill content of many of the jobs in which working children are
involved, the possibilities for acquiring remunerative or satisfying skills become still
more remote, children, thus, find themselves locked in unskilled, low paying situations
and permanently disadvantaged in the labour market.
g) There are also other kinds of deprivations from which labourers suffer, including the
absence of clear and written contractual reemits, the dearth of feeding programmes,
health care facilities and other welfare services and the lack of insurance and social
security. The regulation of employment of children by law covers only a fringe of these
occupations and even where regulation has been sought, the enforcement is extremely
half- hearted and tardy.
h) Unless a systematic evaluation is made from time to time in respect of jobs in
which children are employed and certain purposeful policy decisions are taken to
meet the deficiencies, the existing situation is not likely to undergo any dimensional,
qualitative or quantitative change.
REASONS FOR INCREASE IN CHILD LABOUR

The causes of child labour are many and varied. Thus, a

varietylabour. Easy availability of child labour without
many obligations for employers. Poverty – poverty is the
single important reason for child labour. The poor
parents in order to supplement their income allow the
children to work even on unremunerative jobs. Abject
poverty and unemployment forces the children to take up
un-remunerative jobs. Thus, ―economic compulsions
weigh heavily on the consciousness of the poor parents
and they would not mind colluding with their children‘s
employers in violating the laws and putting their
children under the risks of inhuman exploitation.

Parents want their children for themselves as early as possible, much better, if they become a
source of income to the family. Since the child is put to adult role at an early age, he/she also
marries early and breeds early, thereby increasing the liabilities of his/her family and also of
the whole nation.

a) Many employers prefer to engage children, because they are cheap. Moreover, children
tend to be less troublesome, more disciplined and highly adaptable.

b) School drop-outs.

c) Loss of an earning member of the family.

d) Absence of any State sponsored scheme of family allowance in India.

e) Non-existence of any general scheme of compulsory education up to a minimum age.

f) Slow advance of protective labour legislation.

g) The evasion of the existing laws for the protection of children.

h) Death of parents.

i) Habituated father or any adult male member of the family spending money on drinking etc.

j) Sometimes social structure of the society becomes responsible for child labour. The social
structure in our country is characterized by caste system. The members of low castes and down-
trodden communities are supposed to be for the service of the upper castes. Thus, they are deprived
of their aspirations.

k) The problem of child labour in India is rooted in the exploitative socio-economic setup and poor
and backward economy. Ignorance, lack of job opportunities and other socio-economic institutions
perpetuate this evil. Mass awareness does not prevail in our society which is also an important
cause of child labour.
 GOVERNMENT MEASURES FOR TACKLING THE
PROBLEM OF CHILD LABOUR
In India, attempts were made from time to time to provide legal protection to child labour.
The following acts were passed in India before independence to provide protection child
workers.

-The Factory Act, 1881

-The Indian Merchant Shipping of Labour Act, 1923

-The Children Pledging Of Labour Act, 1933

-The Employment of Children Act, 1338

-The Act Passed after independence are discussed as under:

-The Indian Factories Act of 1948.

-The plantation labour act of 1951.

-The mines act of 1952.

- The child labour (prohibition and regulation)act, 1986.

THE INDIAN FACTORIES ACT OF 1948

This act has limited hours of work for children, prohibited night work and provided for
weekly holiday.
‘No person who has not completed his 14 year may be require or allowed to work in any
factories.

THE PLANTATION LABOUR ACT OF 1951

This act applies to all tea, coffee and rubber plantation, child under the age of 12 shall not work
in any plantation, no child shall be employed except between the hours 6 am and 7pm, except
with permission of the state government. Employer must possess a certificate of fitness of the
workers given by surgeon.
THE MINES ACT OF 1952

Under this act number of child under 15 years of age may be employed in any mine, number of
child may be allowed to be present underground or in any excavation. where mining operations
are carried on. No of adolescent may work below ground in any time unless he is certified to
be medically fit to work as an adult by a certifying surgeon.

THE CHILD LABOUR (PROHIBITION AND REGULATION) ACT 1986

This acts provides for ban on the employment of children and regulate the condition of work
It says down penalties for employment of children in violation of the provision of this act.

“No child shall be employed or permitted to work in any of the

occupation or in any workshop”. This includes a shop, commercial establishments, workshops,
farm, residential, hotel and restaurants, eating houses, theatre or other place of public
amusement or entertainment.

On 23rd July 1998 included the following occupation viz, handing of toxic substances ,
inflammable or explosives , carpet weaving, cloth printing, dying and weaving including
preparatory and incident at process, plastic units, fiber glass and molding, 21 processing auto
mobile workshop, sericulture units, manufacture of lime stone, breaking, crushing, cotton
ginning, pressing, pottery and ceramic industry, production of hosiery goods, manufacture of
cement ceramic industry, manufacture of cement pipes and other related work, gem cutting and
polishing, process of agriculture where tractors, threshing and harvesting machines are used,
glass manufactures, bricks, roof tile, polishing ,mould cutting, welding and manufacturing of
brass goods, paper making, manufacture of dyes and dye staff , pesticides and insecticides,
toxic substances, metal cleaning, manufacturing process having high noise level, involving
thermal radiation, oil expelling and refinery, fabrication workshop, tire making repairing , these
work the children are more sufferer.
ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION IN
FIGHTING CHILD LABOUR
The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPECL) was launched
under the programme of International Labour Organisation in 1991 to work towards the
elimination of child labour by creating awareness about child labour as a global issue using
National platforms. India was among the first Nations to sign the MOU with IPECL to help
in combating child labour.

National Labour Project (NCLP) is one of the major programmes implemented throughout
the country under which seven child labour projects was set up in the year 1988.
Rehabilitation is also one of the major policies that have been adopted by the government of
India to reduce the incidence of child labour in India.

Unfortunately, the concerned authorities are unable to combat the rising cases of child labour
because of varied reasons. They fail to establish the correct age if the child due to the lack of
birth proofs and at time fake proofs. Not much is being done on creating the awareness among
people. Even if efforts are being made they cater to a limited population and the endurance
among the authorities is not visible. A lot of laxity can be observed during the conduct of
awareness programmes. There is still a need to address the issue on global platforms time and
again with stringent policy Framework in place.
NATIONAL POLICY ON CHILD LABOUR
The government believes that it is not easy to completely wipe out child labour. It therefore
only tries to improve their working conditions reduce working hours, ensure minimum wages
and provide facilities for health and education. It could be said that the national policy has been
main ingredients viz,

1- Legal action focusing on general welfare.

2- Developpment programs for the child workers and their families.
3-A project based action plan.
Initially ten projects were proposed to cover the areas where child labour is prevalent. They
include the glass industry in Firozabad, carpet weaving in mirzapur, diamond cutting 22
industry in surat and Jaipur , brassware industry in Moradabad, match and fire works in
shivakashi and so forth.

The union government set up a National Authority in 1993 to eliminate child labour in
hazardous industries by the turn of the country. Rs.850 corers were provided in this plan for
benefiting into two million children. The plans aim at rehabiting the child workers, giving them
education in 15,000 schools in different parts of the country.
The Government is also implementing the international program for elimination of child
labour. The program was launched in January 1993. 33 action programs under this have been
approved and more proposals are under consideration. one project with an interpreted approach
aims rehabiting 5,000 children every year from the carpet trade. Ofcorse, the Indian
Government is spending annually Rs. 10 corers on ten National level pilot projects in priority
industries to wear away child labour and rehabilitate them.

For Successful implementation of the project, the action plan has suggested the following
strategies: Mass enrolment of children into the schools, identifications of child labour.

Strengthening of enforcement machinery and release of child labour assistance of child labour,
involve of NGO’ Sand local bodies.

Center has fixed 2010 AD as the target year to eliminate child labour completely from the
country. Labour ministry has 96 schemes to eliminate the problems.

So far 64 jobs have been identified as hazardous for children. The budget of the 2000-2001year
has been fixed at Rs.36 corers when compared to Rs. 34 corers last year.

The 96 projects cover 2 lakh children in 13 states, but center is willing to extend this to other
states Karnataka is among the 13 states, which have larger population of child labour in the
country.

The government is preparing an action plan for removing all children from hazardous
occupation by 2005 and to provide more funds for projects where they can be employed more
healthy and economically. The number of such projects is beings increased from 96 to 100.

There are at present over 35,000 schools in the country where over two lakh children have been
rehabilited.
ASSESSMENT OF CHILD LABOUR
In spite of various acts passed and measures taken by the Government for the amelioration of
the problem of child labour, the still continues. The legislation have been ineffective in
affording a measure of protection to children. The root cause of child labour is poverty .Since
poverty can not be eliminated overnight, the employment of children bellow 14 years has been
allowed in selected unhazardous sectors. The child workers still continue to work in conditions
dangerous to their wealth.

The child workers have no shelters, no food and no education. They are
vulnerable to exploitation by everyone the employers the parents and even the common man.
SUGGESTION FOR ELIMINATION OF CHILD LABOUR
The problem of child labour is a complex one. There various factors which are through to be
responsible for child labour which needs holistic approach for its elimination. Following
measures may be taken for elimination of the problem.

1. STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF LEGISLATION:

Various acts have been passed for amelioration, of the problems of child labour. But
these acts have not been effective due to lack of proper implementation. Hence, existing
labour legislation must be strictly enforced so that much of the evils will disappear.
2. ELIMINATION OF POVERTY:

The root cause of child labour is poverty. The child labour can not be eliminated
without the eradication of poverty of parents of child labour. Child labour due to
economically necessities. If this is removed the problem will be solved.
The problem of elimination of child labours should be doubly
attacked, on the one hand, the income of the poor sections of the peoples should be
increased and on the other prohibition of child labour should be strictly followed.
3. PROVISION FOR EDUCATION OF CHILDREN

Free and job oriented education should be given to children up to the age of 15. The
child workers should also given education along with their work. The National
communism on labour has observed, while the economic difficulties are real, a way has
to be found to give the child the 25 necessary education in his more receptive years.
We fell this can be ensured by fixing employment hours of children.
The Gurupadaswamy committee has emphasized that, A part strict
enforcement of statutory provisions is existence, steps should be taken to make jobs safe,
secure and healthy while dovetailing job oppertunity with education should be pragmatic
keeping in view the future prospects of the child.
CHILD LABOUR CASE
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported rescue of 23 child labourers in
Saraswati Vihar area of North-West District, Delhi

Press release

National Human Right Commission

New Delhi: 9th July, 2024

NHRC, India takes suo moyu cognizance of the reported rescue of 23 child labourers in
Saraswati Vihar area of North-West District, Delhi

Issues notices to the Delhi Chief Secretary and the Commissioner of Police calling for
reports within two weeks

Also calls for a survey of the NCT of Delhi to know the industrial units employing child
labourers

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media
report, carried on 5th July 2024, that 23 child labourers, including nine girls and 14 boys, were
rescued in the Saraswati Vihar area of North-West District, Delhi. Reportedly, they were brought to
Delhi from nearby states and were working in various factories.

The Commission has observed the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of
violation of the rights of the children. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 as
amended in 2016 prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14 years in any capacity
including domestic help. The Act also makes it a criminal offence to employ a child as a worker/
labourer. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi and
the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to submit a detailed report in the matter within two weeks.

The District Magistrate (DM), North West Delhi is directed to submit a

report indicating the action taken as per provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation)
Act, steps taken for their rehabilitation and reunion with their respective families as well as to
continue their education. The DM, North West Delhi is also expected to inform regarding legal action
taken if any child labourer was being kept under bondage.

Earlier also, the Commission came across such complaints/ news reports alleging violation of the
Labour Laws by the owners of the factories running in various parts of the National Capital. In view
of this, the Commission has also sought to know about the action taken against such delinquent
employers. A survey of the NCT of the Delhi area is required to be conducted to know if there are
more industrial units where the children are being engaged as labourers and what action has been
taken against them.
 CONCLUSION
It is evident that incidence of Child Labour is decreasing in India over the recent past. However,
still 40 million children are out of school of which 6 million are working outside home. Major
problem is the presence of a large mass of Nowhere Children, who are neither working nor going
to school.

If we look at the plausible determining factors, poverty emerges to be a necessary but not a
sufficient condition for thriving of child labour. While poverty is instrumental in keeping the
children out of school, it does not necessarily drive them into the labour market. It is only the
presence of other complementary factors like lack of educational infrastructure that appears to
play a much more crucial role in pushing children to work. The physical component of
educational infrastructure is no doubt important in this respect but the humane factor is
emerging to be more important.

Educational infrastructure is also observed to play a very important role in this regard and
therefore spatial expansion of educational infrastructure with more emphasis on elementary
education would be very useful in eradicating child labour. An emerging idea regarding
educational infrastructure is that at the aggregate level we have to some extent overcome the
stage where there was acute shortage of physical infrastructure viz. lack of school buildings
etc. It is believed that now the bottleneck arises mainly in terms of the human component,
namely availability of teachers. The main task therefore is to ensure that the schools are
adequately staffed and teachers have ample time to take care of individual students.

This will also make learning enjoyable and attract & retain young children in schools. The
nature of working of the schools also needs to be revamped as informal institutions started
under different schemes of Sarva Shikhsa Mission (SSM) are often found to be highly effective
in bringing out of school children under the umbrella of education. It is quite interesting that
proportion of children attending educational institutes in subsidiary status is increasing over
time and can be attributed to SSM. Perhaps the non-conventional schooling hours and informal
system of teaching have suited them whereby they can attend classes even after finishing their
assigned duties. Such an approach will fulfil the promise of right to education of children
without compromising on their broader right to (earn and) live.
 REFERENCES
Burra, Neera (1995) - Born to work: Child labour in India, Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

Galli, Rosanna (2001) – “The economic impact of child labour”, Decent Work Research
Programme Discussion Paper DP/128, ILO. International Institute of Labour Studies, Geneva,
32 p.,2001.

Basu, Kaushik and Pham Hoang Van (1998) - “The Economics of Child Labour,” American
Economic Review, Vol. 88. No. 3 (September), pp.412-427.

Mishra, Lakshmidhar (2000) - Child labour in India, Oxford University Press, New Delhi

Majumdar, Manabi (2001) - “Child labour as a human security problem: Evidence from India”,
Oxford Development Studies, Vol. 29, No. 3, 2001, pp. 279-304.

Beegle, Kathleen, Rajeev Dehejia, and Roberta Gatti, (2003a) – “Why should we care about
childlabor? The education, labor market, and health consequences of child labor”, Policy
Research Working Paper Series 3479, The World Bank.

Chandrashekkar, C.P. (1997) - “The economic consequences of the abolition of child labour:
An Indian case study”, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 24, No. 3, 1997, pp. 137-179.
CONTRIBUTION
Individual contribution of group members

NAME OF GROUP MEMBERS CONTRIBUTION

Tanishka Kumawat

Siddhi Khandelwal

Sneha Gupta

Sujal Soni

Sumit Kumawat

Sohil Khan

Shubham Sanjeev

THANK YOU!