CHAPTER-V

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF
THE CHILD LABOUR

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5.1 Introduction:

As the literature reveals, the poor and disharmonious family

conditions and un-conducive socio-economic factors have been
responsible to push several children into the street. The present
chapter focuses on the socio-economic background of the sampled
child labour that includes the place, origin, caste, religion, language,
family size etc. of the sampled child labour. It has been an important
area of social concern of both national and international level. There
are millions of children who were working at a very tiny age and faced
various forms of exploitation. In such cases, we found that family
economic is playing a vital role to push the child to work in hazardous
and non- hazardous sector.

5.2 Different age group of child labour identified in the

district
The present chapter thus looks into the socio-economic profile
of the children identified as child labour in the study area. During my
field work I found children under 7-8 year are engaged in labour work
and children above 15 are also employed in different sector. The age
and sex wise distribution of child labour has been presented in the
table given below.

Figure:5.2.1 Age & Sex wise distribution of sampled child labour

identified in the study area.

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 Figure- 5.1.1 has described the age and sex-wise sample child
labour identified in Sambalpur District. The table is defined into Five
(5) different categories such as 7-8 yr., 9-10 yr., 11-12 yr., 13-14 yr.
and 15- above year.

According to the Table, 44.6% children in th age group of 13-14

Year followed by 30.6% in the age group of 11-12 year, 12.3% in the
age group of 9-10 year, 6.3% in the age group of 7-8 year and 6% in
the age group of 15-abnove are found in different are of the district.

5.3 Caste & Gender –wise child labour identified in the

district

The most significant part of the research is to illuminate the

chapter according to the caste and gender wise child labour found or
located in the district. As it is obvious that the percentage of migrant
labour is increasing in the district (as per the census data, 2011). In
that context, it is necessary to figure out the sampled child labour as
per different caste and these are general, OBC, SC, ST, Other
(Minority, Punjabi, Bihari etc.). However, some children do not know
about their caste and family backgrounds are living in the railway
station and other areas of the district.

As children across the caste groups are involved in paid or

unpaid work, the following table gives a clear understating and of
children from various caste groups.

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 Table No- 5.3.1. Age & Caste wise distribution of sampled child labour.

Different Age & Sex-Wise Child Labour (n=300)

Caste 7-8 yrs. 9-10 yrs. 11-12 yrs. 13-14 yrs. 15- above Total
Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female
5 3 9 14 19 19 2 71
Gen 0 0 (1.66%) (1%) (3%) (4.66%) (6.33%) (6.33%) 0 (0.66%) (23.66%)
1 1 2 4 5 15 10 4 2 44
OBC (0.33%) (0.33%) (0.66%) 0 (1.33%) (1.66%) (5%) (3.33%) (1.33%) (0.66%) (14.63%)
6 1 5 4 12 11 21 12 1 1 74
SC (2%) (0.33%) (1.66%) (1.33%) (4%) (3.66%) (7%) (4%) (0.33%) (0.33%) (24.64%)
3 4 7 6 18 15 16 14 3 3
ST (1%) (1.33%) (2.33%) (2%) (6%) (5%) (5.33%) (4.66%) (1%) (1%) 89 (29.65%)
1 1 2 4
Not Known 0 0 (0.33%) 0 0 0 (0.33%) (0.66%) 0 0 (1.32%)
2 1 4 2 2 3 2 1 1 18
Others (0.66%) (0.33%) (1.33%) 0 (0.66%) (0.66%) (1%) (0.66%) (0.33%) (0.33%) (6%)
Total 12 7 24 13 45 47 75 59 9 9 300
(4%) (2.3%) (8%) (4.3%) (15%) (15.6%) (25%) (19.6%) (3%) (3%) (100%)

(Others: Minority, Bihari)

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 The above table shows the age and caste-wise child labour
identified in Sambalpur District. As shown the figure the highest
29.65% belongs to ST followed by 24.64% from SC and 23.66% from
General and 14.63% from OBC, only 6 % comprises of those children
who are immigrant to the district (Minority, Bihari). But 1.32% don’t
know about their caste or religion as they are trafficked, runaway or
orphan children.

Further, it reveals that majority (44.6%) of children in the age

group of 13-14 year are engaged in different work, of which the
percentage of male and female are 25% and 19.6% respectively.
However, 30.6% children in the age group of 11-12 year are working
for their livelihood and the percentage of male and female are found to
be equal. Again, it is found that 6.3% and 12.3% children in the age
group of 7-8 year and 9-10 years are also engaged in different
occupations. But only 6% children in the age of 15-above are also
engaged in different sector and the percentage of male and female are
found to be equal i.e., 3%.

Thus, the highest percentage of working children are found in

the age group of 11-14 years. It included 40% male and 34% female
from among the total child labour. Yet children in the age of 7-8 years
also reported to be working as child labour.

5.4 Language

Odisha is a multilingual state where people using different

languages stay in one area and share the thought by using their
regional language. During the field research, I interacted with
multilingual people that described in the following table.

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Figure No: 5.4.1. Distribution of child labour by the regional language spoken by

them

The above figure describes about the distribution of the child

labour by the regional language spoken by them. It is found that the
highest (75.66%) of child labour speaks Odia followed by 4.66% Hindi,
8% Sadri, 9.33% Santali, 2% Mundari. But only 0.33% children speak
Odia/Kishan bhasa.

Besides the above, it also revealed that beside Hindi and Odia
language some other languages are also spoken by the child labour.
These are Santali, Kishan Bhasa, Munda Bhasa, Santali, Khadia etc.
that explained in the following table.

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Figure No.- 5.4.2. No of languages known or spoken by the child labour

The present figure describes about the different languages

spoken by the child labour. It is found that highest 48.33% of children
speak Odia language fluently and 31.33% child labour speaks both
Odia and Hindi language. However, beside Odia and Hindi language
8.33% speaks other regional language like Munda, Sadri, Santali and
Khadia Bhasa followed by 4.66% speaks Kadia, kisan Bhasa, Munda
and Sadri, 4% speaks Santali and Sadri. Only 3.33% children speak
Hindi language.

5.5 Socio- Economic Condition of the Family

To know the socio-economical circumstance of the family it is very

important to know about the family type and size of the child labour
along with the working condition and earning position and

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educational status of their parents and guardians of the child labour.
Apart from this, it is also very important to figure out the Govt.
schemes that the parents are getting. Then we can discuss the
genuine history of the socio-economic structure of these vulnerable
children.

Family type and Size

Family is also an important part of every child’s life. As we know

that family is the first and prime institution for the children. Living a
better life completely depends on family size and types. The present
study is base on it.

Table No- 5.5.1. Distribution of Child Labour according to Family Types

& Size

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 The above figure shows that the highest percentage of 72.33%
children belong to nuclear family followed by 26.33% from the joint
family but only 1.33% child labour do not know anything about their
family as they are orphan, trafficked and runaway children. Further,
the size of the family also seems to influence the child labour. It is
clear that 46.33% of child labour come from the family with more than
6 members followed by family of 4-5 members. This means children
with nuclear family and large numbers of family members are more
vulnerable to be engaged in work.

Living Condition of the Children

After knowing about their family type and size it is very

important to know about their living condition on the Street. In my
study, I have collected my data based on the few points (i) Living with
their family (ii) With peer groups on the street (iii) With their guardian
(iv) Staying alone with no protection.

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Table No- 5.5.2. Distribution of living conditions of the child labour according to their age and sex

Age & Sex-wise child labour (n=300)

Category of
7-8 year 9-10 year 11-12 year 13-14 year 15-Above year Total
living condition
Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female (M+F)

Living with their 12 7 20 11 39 43 65 44 4 7 252

Family (4%) (2.33%) (6.66%) (3.66%) (13%) (14.33%) (21.66%) (14.66%) (1.33%) (2.33%) (84%)
Living with peer
1 1 1 1 1 5
groups on the 0 0 0 0 0
(0.33%) (0.33%) (0.33%) (0.33%) (0.33%) (1.66%)
street
Living with a 2 1 3 3 4 8 4 1 26
0 0
single parent (0.66%) (0.33%) (1%) (1%) (1.33%) (2.66%) (1.33%) (0.33%) (8.66%)
Living with their 1 1 3 1 5 6 17
0 0 0 0
guardian (0.33%) (0.33%) (1%) (0.33%) (1.66%) (2%) (5.66%)
300
12 7 24 13 45 47 75 59 9 9
Total (%) (100%)
(4%) (2.3%) (8%) (4.3%) (15%) (15.6%) (25%) (19.6%) (3%) (3%)

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 The present table has explored about the living condition of the
child labour. Out of the total, 84% of child labour is staying with their
family in any condition; however, 8.66% of child labour is living with
their single parent which is also a major dilemma to push the child in
the labour market. Because of the migration, most of the children are
staying with their guardian and they engaged in work to maintain
their family. However, only 1.66% of child labour has been staying
with their peer groups because of the lack of family values. These
children called as trafficked or orphan children the most vulnerable
children in the society. It involves them in any work to make for their
daily survival.

Further, it also reveals that highest 21.66% male and 14.66%

female in the age group of 13-14 year are living with their family
whereas 13% male and 14.33% female in the age of 11-12 year are
also living with family. But, the percentage of the male and female
child is nearly equal in the age of 7-8 year and 9-10 year i.e. 6.33%
male, 2.33% female and 6.66% male, 3.66% female respectively. In the
other hand, we find the lowest percentages of children in the age
group of 15-above i.e. 1.33% male and 2.33% female as because these
in his age children prefer to lead their life according to their choice.
They are engaged in work just to earn some money for their pocket
money and towards the maintained of their family economy.

In that connection, children who are living with peer groups on

the street are those children who run away from their home, trafficked
and orphan and the percentage of these children in every age group
are same i.e. 0.33%. Apart from this, migration plays a vital role to live
the child with their guardians. The percentage of female in
comparison of the male is higher at 13-14 year i.e. 1.66% and 2%
respectively. However, the percentage of children under the age group
of 9-10 year and 11-12 year are equal i.e. 0.33% male and female we
found but only 1% male at 11-12 year which is nearly equal.

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 For abandonment, separation, and death of the parents of the
child labour, most of the children are living with their single parents
that also affect the child’s life. The percentages of these children are
nearly equal in every age. Majority children belong to the age of 13-14
year, from which the percentage of the female is higher than the
percentage of male i.e. 2.66% female and 1.33% male respectively. It
also comes to the noticed that total 4.65% of children in the age of 9-
10-year, 11-12 year and 15-above year are living with single parents
and the percentages are 1%, 2% and 1.66% respectively. This is also a
reason that children are neglect and mislead to engage in different
hazardous and non-hazardous work.

Education of the parents

Parent’s education is always playing a significant role towards

the proper nourishment of their children and helps to reduce the ratio
of child employment. During the study, total 296 child labour’s
parents were available in the district and data has been collected by
them directly. However, only 6 numbers of children are got
interviewed to know their parent’s details as there are not staying with
their family. The following table represents the educational status of
the parents of sampled child labour.

Table No: 5.5.3. Education Status of parents of the Child Labour

Literacy Status Level of Education of the Parents (n=147)

Standard of Father Mother Total
Education Father Mother Total
education
88 59 147 Primary 40 15 55
Literate
(14.66%) (9.83%) (24.5%) (I-V) (27.2%) (10.2%) (37.4%)
Upper Primary 37 28 65
212 235 447 (VI-VIII) (25.2%) (19%) (44.2%)
Illiterate
(35.33% (39.16%) (74.5%)
Secondary 11 14 25
(IX-X) (7.48%) (9.5%) (17%)
Don’t 6 6
0 Higher Secondary 0 2 2
known (1%) (1%)
(XI) (1.36%) (1.36%)
300 300 600 Total 88 59 147
Total
(50%) (50%) (100%) (59.8%) (40.1%) (100%)

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 Table No. 1.5.8. has described about the educational status of
parents of the child labour in two different segments like literacy
status and level of education. As per the table total 24.5% parents are
literate where the percentage of father (14.66%) is higher than Mother
(9.38%). Subsequently, the highest 74.5% of parents are illiterate; the
percentage of mother (39.1%) is higher than father (35.33%). But only
1% children said that they don’t know the educational status of their
mothers.

Further, among the literate parents it reveals that 44.2% of

parents have completed the upper primary education. The percentage
of father and mother are found to be 25.2% and 19%. Again, 37.4%
parents have completed primary education from which male (27.2%)
and female (10.2%). It also found that 17% of parents have completed
and dropped out secondary education. The percentage of mother
(9.5%) is higher than father (7.48%). Only 1.36% mother either
complete or dropped out higher secondary education.

Working Condition of the Parents

Parents are the backbone of the family, naturally, parents are

earning for their family. Due to low family income, they also engaged
their children in a different workforce. The present study gives focus
on the working condition of the parents of child labour.

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Figure No: - 5.5.4. Distribution of working status of the family

The above figure shows the working status of parents of the

child labour. The variations are categories into two different parts, one
is age-wise like 15-25years, 26-36 years, 37-47years, 48-58 years, 59-
80 years and not known. Second one is about the working status of
the parents.
The analysis shows that 90.66% parents are reported to be
working, from which 57.66% are single parent and 33% are both
parents. Only 9.33% parents are not working in any sector because
they are old, sick, addicted, out of work and not interested to work
etc.

Further, it reveals that highest 35.66% of single parents in the age

group of 37-47 year are working followed by 6.66% in the age group of
26-36 year, 8.33% in the age group of 48-58 years and 2% in the age
group of 59-80 year. Only 5% parents are not express age. Again, it
reflects that 23.66% of both parents are working followed by 5% in the
age group of 26-36 year, 2.66% in the age group of 48-58 years.
However, the percentage of both working parents is equal in the age
group of 15-25year and not knows (0.66%) and only 0.33% of both
parents working in the age group of 59-80 years.

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 After knowing the working status of the parents, now it is
necessary to examine the occupational details of those working
parents and the detail is given below.

Table No: 5.5.5 Occupational engagement of parents of the child labour

Distribution of Working Parents

Different Work Single parents working(n=173) Both parents working(n=198)
Male Female Total Male Female Total
1 2 3 4 5 6
Agriculture 3 (1.73%) 0 3(1.73%) 1 (0.50%) 3 (1.51%) 4(2.02%)
Selling Alcohol 0 1(0.57%) 1(0.57%) 0 0 0
Beedi Worker 1(0.57%) 3 (1.73%) 4(2.31%) 1 (0.50%) 5 (2.52%) 6(3.03%)
Begging 1(0.57%) 1(0.57%) 2(1.15%) 6 (3.03%) 6 (3.03%) 12(6.06%)

Brick Kiln 1(0.57%) 2 (1.15%) 3(1.73%) 2 (1.01%) 1 (0.50%) 3(1.51%)

Carpenter 2(1.15%) 0 2(1.15%) 0 0 0
Chair Selling 2 (1.15%) 0 2(1.15%) 0 0 0
Cleaning Utensil 1(0.57%) 2 (1.15%) 3(1.73%) 0 2 (1.01%) 2 (1.01%)
Collection & selling
of Woods as well as 1(0.57%) 1(0.57%) 2(1.15%) 0 2 (1.01%) 2 (1.01%)
Leafs
Construction work/
10 (5.78%) 3 (1.73%) 13(7.51%) 12 (6.06%) 7 (3.53%) 19 (9.59%)
Raw material/ Mistri
Daily Labourer 66 (38.15%) 23(13.29%) 89(51.44%) 57 (28.78%) 43 (21.71%) 100(50.50%)
Domestic Worker 0 0 0 0 3 (1.51%) 3(1.51%)
Driver 6 (3.46%) 0 6 (3.46%) 2 (1.01%) 0 2(1.01%)
Farmer 5 (2.89%) 0 5 (2.89%) 2 (1.01%) 1 (0.50%) 3(1.51%)
Fast Food Center 2 (1.15%) 0 2 (1.15%) 0 0 0
Garage Work 0 0 0 1 (0.50%) 0 1(0.50%)
House Hold Work 5 (2.89%) 0 5 (2.89%) 0 15 (7.57%) 15 (7.57%)
Making & Selling 1(0.57%) 0 1(0.57%) 0 3 (1.51%) 3 (1.51%)
Paper Beg
Salon 1(0.57%) 0 1(0.57%) 0 0 0
Rag Picker 2 (1.15%) 0 2 (1.15%) 3 (1.51%) 3 (1.51%) 6(3.02%)
Rickshaw Puller 6 (3.46%) 0 6 (3.46%) 4 (2.02%) 0 4 (2.02%)
Road Side Small
Ayurvedic Medicine 4(2.31%) 0 4(2.31%) 0 0 0
Business
Vegetable Vendor 13(7.51%) 2(1.15%) 15(8.67%) 6 (3.03%) 5 (2.52%) 11(5.55%)
Sweeper 1(0.57%) 0 1(0.57%) 0 0 0

Tailoring 1(0.57%) 0 1(0.57%) 0 0 0

Tractor & Trolley
0 0 0 2 (1.01%) 0 2(1.01%)
Puller
Total 135(78.04%) 38(21.96%) 173(100%) 99 (50%) 99 (50%) 198(100%)

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 It is apparent from the table that parents are engaged in variety
of works. The parents of child labour are engaged in unskilled works.
Out of the total sample size, total 371 no. of parents are working,
where 173 nos. of parents belong to the single parents and 198 nos. of
parents are from both parents working category. Subsequently, a total
of 78.04% father and 21.96% mother found to work in single parent’s
category whereas the percentage of both father and mother are
identical in the category of both parents working.

Occupation wise engagement seems to be highest in daily wages

labours (51.44%) followed by construction work (7.51%) and vegetable
vendor (8.67%). A minisub proportion (less than 7%) are engaged in
different occupations like making paper beg, selling alcohol, making
beedi, Bricklin, begging, carpenter, garage, salon, ragpickers etc.

It also reveals that, two third of the both working parents are
engaged in daily wage labours, construction work and house hold
work. The proportion of male (38.48%) is higher than female (32.81%).
However, rest percentage of parents are engaged in other occupations.

Income and expenditure status of the working parents

Following to the above table it is necessary to discuss the

income and expenditure of those working parents of the child
labourers.

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 Table No: 5.5.6. Income and Expenditure of Working Parents and
household of the Child Labour

Income Status (n=272) Expenditure pattern (n=272)

Single Both
Range of parents parents
Indicators Total No. of
Income (Rs.) earning earning
(n=173) (n=99) Parents
≤ 1000 0 4 (1.4%) Only Maintenance of the family 49 (18%)
1000-3000 30(11%) Alcohol addicted 17 (6.25%)
8 (3%)
4000-8000 Maintenance of the family & Alcohol 160(58.82%)
101(37.13%)
52(19.1%) addiction
9000-12000 37(13.6%) Only Education of the children 16(5.88%)
32(11.7%)
13000-20000 Investment in other small business or 8 (3%)
3(1.1%)
2(0.73%) Gambling
Not Specified/ Maintenance of family & education of the 22 (8%)
Depended on work 2(0.73%) 1(0.36%) children

Total 173(63.6%)) 99(36.3%) Total 272 (100%)

The above table shows that more than 48.13% of single parents
of the child labour earning less than Rs.8000 per month followed by
13.6% earning Rs.9000-12000 per month, 1.1% are earning between
Rs. 13000-20000 per month. Only few percentages (0.73%) could not
specify their income as they were beggars and rag pickers and their
income various. This clearly shows the income of single parents is
nearly half of the working parents were both are engaged in work. It
therefore seems clear that the majority of the child workers of these
parents are probably introduced to working to supplement the
income.

After analyzing the income, we should look into the expenditure

pattern of the family which reveals that majority (58.8%) of working
parents make expenditure on family maintenance and also consume
alcohol on daily basis. In addition to that, 6.25% of these parents
expend only on alcohol. Expenditure on education of the children is
minuscule. However, 3% also spend money in gambling and other
small business. Further, it reveals that 18% parents make
expenditure on only family maintenance followed by 5.88% make
expenditure only on education of the children and 8% make
expenditure on family maintenance and education of the parents.

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 By observing the income, expenditure source of the families and
to prohibit the employment of the children; the Government has
implemented so many schemes to provide benefits for the vulnerable
for their livelihood like BPL, ALP, Rason card, Labour Card, Health
Card etc. During the field research, I found that majority of the
parents are covered under the schemes of the Govt.

Figure No: 5.5.7. Availability of Cards under various Govt.

Scheme

As evinced from Figure No. 1.5.10 above, the households of the

child labourers are facilitated under 28.3% BPL, 10 % Ration card,
7.3% Labour Card, 5.6% Health card, and only 1 % APL Card. But
there is some household who are getting multi scheme facilities. In
that context, height 18.3% of households are facilitated by BPL with
Rason Cards, 8.3% BPL & Labour Cards, only 5% of the household is
covered under both BPL and health card. There is no household
covered under Ration with Labour cards. An astounding total of 6.3%
of households is benefited by BPL, Ration, Health with Labour Cards.
Besides all these facilities and other poverty alleviation schemes are
there to control child labour but it seems to be increased in society.

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5.6 Findings & Conclusion:

From the above analysis, it is clearly observed that not only

poverty but also the living standard with low family economic are
important factor to involve the child in the workforce.
 Majority of the child labour are found to be in the age group of 9 to
14 years. During their course of working these children come
across various people of different languages which enable them to
verse with various languages making them comfortable to
communicate in several situations.
 Family type and size also influences the condition of child labour
such as the children living in nuclear family are more vulnerable.
The number of family members adds more to the vulnerability.
 Living condition of the family member is also a major factor
behind child labour. it is found from the study that highest no. of
children (84%) living with their family are engaged in workforce rather
than those children living with single parents, guardians, peer groups
etc.
 The standard of parent’s education and their lack of awareness
towards the benefit of the education are also the factors in
increasing child labour. Beside it, working condition of the
parents, income and expenditure are also the pushing factors to
put children into the labour market. Looking into the occupational
structure, most of the parents of the child labour are engaged in
menial work and probably the income pattern would not have
been adequate to maintain the family.
 It is also found that 90.66% of parents engaged in some kind of
jobs of which 57.66% of family have single parent working and
33% where both the parents work. Only 9.33% parents were not
working in any sector because they were either old, or sick, or
addicted to alcohol or out of work or not interested to do any kind
of work. These families are using or engaging their children as an
economic resource for their family.

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