Child labour: Darker side of Indian society
Nine out of 10 children work within family settings, which is the most fearful aspect of child labour. The families and other people must realise that, in the long run, this will definitely hamper the growth of the country.
THE PROBLEM of child labour in our country has acquired staggering proportions. There are nearly 115 million working children in India, the largest number worldwide.
The first Act on child labour was introduced way back in 1933. The social economic milieu is considered the root cause for child labour all over the world. In India, the world’s largest child labour programme is being run at the grass-roots level. It includes the primary education of about 250 million children across the nation. About 85 per cent of child labourers are in the rural parts of India where education of children is a rarity. These children significantly contribute to the household income which touches nearly 34-37 per cent.
In the year 1986, by an Act, India prohibited the employment of children below 14 years. It got a further boost on October 5, 1993, when the government banned work by children in slaughter houses, printing, etc.
The NCLP also implemented a legal action plan for strict enforcement of the provision against child labour in India. They were assigned projects for the identification and rehabilitation of working children. But the problem of child labour needs a pragmatic approach as had been rightly said by Pt Nehru, “ Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow.”
To fulfil this dream, the government of India is running 76 projects under the National Child Labour Project covering about 1,50,000 children. It also encourages voluntary organisations. It has a sound budget support of about Rs 150 million. Free and compulsory education is being made mandatory to all states.
To fulfil this dream, the government of India is running 76 projects under the National Child Labour Project covering about 1,50,000 children. It also encourages voluntary organisations. It has a sound budget support of about Rs 150 million. Free and compulsory education is being made mandatory to all states.
Besides all these, nine out of 10 children work within family settings, which is the most fearful aspect of child labour. The families and other people must realise that, in the long run, this will definitely hamper the growth of the country. The fundamental rights of a child must be guarded by all of us to make their future bright and prosperous as they will be the instruments in making the world shine.
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