Child Labour in India

Child labour in India

"There is no trust more sacred 

than the one 

the world holds with children.

There is no duty

more important than ensuring 

that their rights

are respected, 

there welfare is protected their 

lives are free from fear and 

they can grow up

in peace. "

- Kofi annan

          Why child labour exists in first place....? How one can force 'a sunshine ' to work for 12 hours of day, 7 days of week for few pieces of bread...? To study, to play, to rest......these are their birth rights and we as a nation not able to protect it. Using child as a labour is stain on humanity. India is no good to children. It has long history and still it exist. Child labour is living hell for children. Child abuse, child labour, child slavery are become prominent issues and which should be eradicated.

           As per the ministry, around 12 million child labourers are present in India. But working NGOs shows confounding data that around 60 million child labourers are directly or indirectly involved in the child labour. This mammoth data makes India home for child labour. And by this India is making them useless for country and for their future too.

        Using children as worker oppresses their abilities and restrains them from reaping benefits of their own abilities. In total child labour, manufacturing sector accounts for 16.55% and hotel, restaurant accounts for 8.45%. This sectors force children to work for 12 hours a day. Which is above par limit of that body. Indian government has come with many laws to prohibite and regulate the child labour but still it is unsuccessful. Because enforcement is what lacks in the efforts by the government. Child labour prohibition and regulation Act 1986 set 14 year as a lower age for child labour. Juvenile justice Act 2000 prohibits use of children below 18 as labour for hazardous work and also restrains employer from bondage of children.

           One of the unkindness of the child labour is it affects health of children very badly. Its effects are physical and psychic too. While growing children needs healthy environment to grow healthy. It is the developing stage of body which needs good food and enough rest. Which is nightmare for child labourer. Hard labour put excessive stress to which child body reacts adversely. In many sectors child labourers come in contact with chemical compounds and in early age exposure to chemicals is detrimental to health as comparative to adult. This child labourers are less skilled and therefore more prone to accidents. These working areas lack basic infrastructure, amenities and safety measures. Overall it makes child labourer as no more than slave.

              Here we are with blackened future of our children. We are unable to give them food, education, home and many more things. By this way, socially, we are being inhuman to them. We are losing great investment which will flourish future of our country. Only making laws cannot force the situations to change but its effective enforcement will. So until we let them have their own rights we cannot anticipate good and healthy future.

Jay Hind