TECHNO INDIA GROUP PUBLIC SCHOOL
HOOGHLY
AISSCE – 2026
ENGLISH CORE
NAME: JIYA
SINGH CLASS: XII
SECTION: SC-3
ROLL NO:12
TOPIC: THE LOST SPRING
1
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that JIYA SINGH of Class XII SC-3
has successfully completed her project on “THE
LOST SPRING” under the guidance of Ms. Trina
Archarya during the Academic Year of 2025-26.
Examiner’s
Date and Signature
Principal’s Signature with Seal
2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I express my heartfelt gratitude to my English Teacher,
Ms. Trina Archarya for providing me with invaluable
insights.
Our esteemed Principal, Mr. Debayan Dutta for fostering an
environment of learning and creativity within our school.
I am also thankful to my family for their constant
encouragement, patience and understanding.
Thank you everyone for shaping this project and enhancing
my learning experience.
3
CONTENTS
1. Introduction 5
2. What is Child Labour? 6
3. Forms of Child Labour 7
4. Causes and Consequences of Child Labour 8
5. Prevalence of Child Labour and Indian Slums 9
6. Access to Education in Slums 10
7. Common types of Child Labour 11
8. Child Labour in India 12
9. National and International Laws to eliminate Child Labour 13
10. How can we stop Child Labour ? 14
11. Survey Questions 15-22
12. Bibliography 23
4
INTRODUCTION
“Sometimes I find a Rupee in the garbage…” With this quiet observation, Anees Jung in Lost
Spring highlights the harsh reality of child labour in India, where many children are forced to
work in order to support their families. The author beautifully captures the innocence and
resilience of these children, despite their harsh circumstances.
This project sheds light on the pervasive nature of child labour and the indifference of society
towards it. The issue of child labour is a moral and ethical dilemma that calls for urgent
action and collective responsibility.
Through a blend of stories, visuals, data and voices, this project highlights / focuses on the
underprivileged children. It is imperative for us to recognize that these children are the future of
our society and that every child deserves the right to a happy and fulfilling childhood, free from
the burden of labour.
5
WHAT IS CHILD LABOUR ?
▶ Negation of childhood and child education and development.
▶ Harms them or exploits them in someway(physically, mentally, socially, morally).
▶ Lack of potential and dignity.
▶ Violates fundamental rights of the child.
▶ Affects emotional well-being and self-esteem of the child.
▶ Perpetuates the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.
6
FORMS OF CHILD LABOUR
▶ Slavery
▶ Child Trafficking
▶ Debt Bondage
▶ Serfdom( status of many peasants under feudalism)
▶ Forced Labour
7
CAUSES
▶ Illiteracy
▶ Poverty
▶ Unemployment
▶ Low Wages
▶ Excess Population
▶ Business Advantage
▶ Failure of Laws
CONSEQUENCES FOR CHILDREN
▶ Physical Injuries
▶ Pesticide Poisioning
▶ Growth Deficiency
▶ Long Term Health Problems
▶ Sexually transmitted Diseases
8
PREVALENCE OF CHILD LABOUR
▶ Worldwide 218 million children between 5 and 17 years are in employment.Among them,
152 million are victims of child labour; almost half of them, 73 million, work in hazardous child
labour.(ILO, 2017).
▶ According to International Labour Organization (2017), prevalence of child labour is in 1 in 5
children in Africa (19.6%) who are in child labour, whilst prevalence in other regions is between
3% & 7%: 2.9% in the Arab States (in 35 children), 4.1% in Europe and Central Asia (in 25);
5.3% in the Americas (in 19) and 7.4% in Asia and the Pacific region (in 140).
▶ Child labour is concentrated primarily in agriculture (71%), which includes fishing, forestry,
livestock breeding and aquaculture, and comprises both subsistence and commercial farming;
17% in Services; and 12% in the Industrial sector, including mining (ILO, 2017).
INDIAN SLUMS
▶ Dharavi in Mumbai
▶ Bhalswa in Delhi
▶ Nochikuppam in Chennai
▶ Basanti Slum in Kolkata
9
BOTTOM 5 STATES IN CHILD LABOUR, 2009-10
ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN SLUMS
▶ Challenges to enrollment
▶ Challenges to retention
▶ Need for quality education
▶ Role of NGOs and community organisation
▶ Need for holistic approach
10
COMMON TYPES OF CHILD LABOUR
▶ Domestic work - children are engaged as domestic workers or child labourers in domestic
chores.
▶ Agriculture - A large number of children work in agricultural activities in farms and other
sectors like cattle rearing, etc.
▶ Informal sector - Children work in street vending businesses and other informal occupations -
A concerning issue.
▶ Hazardous occupations are involved in manufacturing in factories, mining etc. with dangerous
materials.
11
CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA
▶ According to a survey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (out of the estimated 40
million children in India, approximately 19 million are working as child labourers.
▶ More than 12.5 million children are involved in child labor in India. According to Reuters,
“India’s Labor Force Survey (2014-15) showed that of those children aged between 10 and 14
years active in child labor, 61 percent were boys and 88 percent came from rural areas”.
12
LAWS FOR ELIMINATION OF CHILD
LABOUR
IN INDIA
▶ Act 2016 – Punjab restriction on employment of children was implemented to prohibit the
employment of children and to restrict the employment of adolescents in certain occupations and
processes.
▶ Constitutional Provisions:
1. Article 11(3): No child below the age of 14 years shall be engaged in any factory or
mine or any other hazardous employment.
2. Article 25(A): The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of
the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as determined by law.
▶ National Education Policy: It focuses on increasing the literacy rate and providing
livelihood skills to children, including those engaged in child labor. Aims to expand non-formal
and
vocational education programs to children, including child laborers.(63)
INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR ELIMINATION OF
CHILD LABOUR
▶ ILO Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention No. 182 requires ratifying countries to take
immediate action to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labor defined as: all forms of
slavery, commercial sexual exploitation of children, and any work that by its nature is harmful
to the health, safety, or morals of children.
▶ The CRC is a human rights treaty that comprehensively establishes the rights of children.
Under the CRC, a child is anyone under the age of 18, unless otherwise noted in national
13
legislation. Notably, the United States and Somalia are the only two countries that have yet to
ratify the CRC.
14
HOW CAN WE STOP CHILD LABOUR ?
▶ Review national laws regarding child labor.
▶ Create awareness
▶ Check the age of your employees.
▶ Provide education to children
▶ Identify hazardous work
▶ Stop hiring children below the minimum age.
▶ Donating to NGO's
15
INTRODUCTION TO THE SURVEY
To understand people’s perspective towards child labour, a short survey was designed.These
questions aim to reflect people’s real thoughts on underpriviledged, underage children and
problems faced by them – themes closely related to Anees Jung’s story “The Lost Spring”. The
responses hepl bring out the real bitter truth of child labour.
QUESTIONNAIRE
NAME: AGE:
OCCUPATION:
1. Are you aware of child labour ?
2. In your opinion,what is the definition of child labour ?
3. Do you believe child labour is a serious problem ?
16
4. What do you think are the main causes of child labour ?
5. What are the negative impacts of child labour on children ?
6. In your opinion,what are some potential solutions to address child labour ?
7. Have you personally witnessed or been involved in child labour ?
8. What are the main types of work that children are engaged in your commumity ?
9. Do you believe these laws & regulations are effective in preventing child labour ?
10. Can future in India be free from child labour ?
17
INTRODUCTION TO THE SURVEY
To understand people’s perspective towards child labour, a short survey was designed.These
questions aim to reflect people’s real thoughts on underpriviledged, underage children and
problems faced by them – themes closely related to Anees Jung’s story “The Lost Spring”. The
responses hepl bring out the real bitter truth of child labour.
QUESTIONNAIRE
NAME: AGE:
OCCUPATION:
1. Can future in India be free from child labour ?
2. What are your views regarding child labour ?
3. Do you believe child labour is a serious problem ?
18
4. What do you think are the main causes of child labour ?
5. What are the negative impacts of child labour on children ?
6. In your opinion,what are some potential solutions to address child labour ?
7. Have you personally witnessed or been involved in child labour ?
8. What are the main types of work that children are engaged in your commumity ?
9. Do you believe these laws & regulations are effective in preventing child labour ?
10. In which sector is child labour, mostly found ?
19
INTRODUCTION TO THE SURVEY
To understand people’s perspective towards child labour, a short survey was designed.These
questions aim to reflect people’s real thoughts on underpriviledged, underage children and
problems faced by them – themes closely related to Anees Jung’s story “The Lost Spring”. The
responses hepl bring out the real bitter truth of child labour.
QUESTIONNAIRE
NAME: AGE:
OCCUPATION:
1. Are you aware of child labour ?
2. In your opinion,what is the definition of child labour ?
3. Are you in support of child labour ?
11
0
4. What do you think are the main causes of child labour ?
5. What are the negative impacts of child labour on children ?
6. In your opinion,what are some potential solutions to address child labour ?
7. In which sector is child labour, mostly found ?
8. What are the main types of work that children are engaged in your commumity ?
9. Do you believe these laws & regulations are effective in preventing child labour ?
10. Can future in India be free from child labour ?
20
INTRODUCTION TO THE SURVEY
To understand people’s perspective towards child labour, a short survey was designed.These
questions aim to reflect people’s real thoughts on underpriviledged, underage children and
problems faced by them – themes closely related to Anees Jung’s story “The Lost Spring”. The
responses hepl bring out the real bitter truth of child labour.
QUESTIONNAIRE
NAME: AGE:
OCCUPATION:
1. Have you personally witnessed or been involved in child labour ?
2. What are the main types of work that children are engaged in your commumity ?
3. Do you believe child labour is a serious problem ?
21
4. What do you think are the main causes of child labour ?
5. What are the negative impacts of child labour on children ?
6. In your opinion,what are some potential solutions to address child labour ?
7. Are you aware of child labour ?
8. In your opinion,what is the definition of child labour ?
9. Do you believe these laws & regulations are effective in preventing child labour ?
10. Can future in India be free from child labour ?
22
BIBLIOGRAPHY
▶ www.wikipedia.com
▶ www.google.com
▶ https://testbook.com
▶ https://infinitylearn.com
▶ https://labour.gov.in
23
