Name-Arundhati Ghosh Class - 11 Section - Humanities Roll No. - 26
Name-Arundhati Ghosh Class - 11 Section - Humanities Roll No. - 26
Name-Arundhati Ghosh Class - 11 Section - Humanities Roll No. - 26
Class- 11
Section- humanities
Roll no. - 26
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Acknowledgement
I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to our sociology teacher Mrs. Gray
as well as our principal for giving us the opportunity to work of insightful topics
of
‘The problem of child labour’ and ‘poverty and crime’.
The topics have been extremely insightful and have helped me gain my
knowledge quotient.
I would also like to thank my peers and my parents for assisting me in the
compilation and completion of this project.
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THE PROBLEM
OF
CHILD LABOUR
IN
INDIA
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Index
1. Introduction 6-7
2. Objective of study 8
3. Review of literature 9
4. Research methodology 10
5. Data collection and analysis 11-22
6. Conclusion 23
7. Limitations 25
8. Bibliography 26
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Introduction
Child labour is not a recent problem; its roots can be traced back to the early stages of
industrialization when children were often exploited for their labour in factories and mines.
Despite global efforts to eradicate child labour, it continues to exist in various forms, ranging
from hazardous and exploitative work to more subtle forms of exploitation.
Even though the definition of child labour is not universal , according to the International
Labour Organisation , child labour essentially means anywork that is mentally, physically,
socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children and interferes with their schooling by
depriving them of the opportunity to attend school, obliging them to leave school
prematurely, or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively
long and heavy work.
i) Children who are engaged in work unsuitable for their capacities as children or in work
that may jeopardise their health, education or moral development and whose age is below 14
years.
ii) Children who practise and engage in economic activities, on a part or full-time basis.
iii) The practices which deprive children of their childhood and are harmful to their physical
and mental development.
i) Acute poverty.
ii) Lack of educational resources
iii) Social and Economic Backwardness
iv) Lure of cheap labour
v) Family tradition
Laws such as “The Child Labour Prohibition Act of 1968” and the “Right to Education
Act of 2009” help in regulating and eradicating child labour along with other
governmental and non-governmental aids.
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Objectives of study
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Review of Literature
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Research methodology
Research methodology are the specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select,
process, and analyse information about a topic. In a research paper, the methodology section
allows the reader to critically evaluate a study’s overall validity and reliability. A
methodology is a system of rules, principles and procedures that guides scientific
investigation.
The method used for this study is content analysis. Data is collected by the researcher
through the analysis and interpretation of various text based data. The use of articles,
journals, thesis of sociologists as well as statistical tabulations and calculations make this
study both quantitative and qualitative.
HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis is an assumption that is made on the basis of some evident idea that is suggested
as the possible explanation for something but has not yet been found out to be true or correct
for a hypothesis to be a scientific hypothesis, a scientific hypothesis requires to be one that
can be tested. Even though the word ‘hypotheses’ and ‘theory’ are often used synonymously,
a scientific hypothesis is not the same as ‘scientific theory’.
Child labour is the deprivation of one’s childhood. It is the physical and mental work
done by children below the age of 14 due to economic and social pressure and force.
The causes of child labour vary in reasons such as:poverty, population growth, lack of
educational facilities etc.
There is an adverse impact of child labour on children; both physical and
psychological.
The NGO’s and governmental policies have helped in regulating and reducing child
labour.
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Data Collection and Analysis
To understand the problem of child labour
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In urban areas, a huge number of children are involved in manual domestic work, rag
picking, restaurants, motor repair shops, etc.
2. Gender specific: The division of labour is gender-specific with girls being engaged in
more domestic and home-based work, and boys working as wage labourers.
3. Bonded Child Labour: refers to the employment of a person against a loan, debt or social
obligation by the family of the child or family as a whole. Bonded child labourers are mostly
found in the agriculture sector or helping their families in brick kilns, and stone quarries.
There are around 10 million bonded child labourers in India.
4. Migrant Children: Children who are migrating to other locations with family are often
forced to drop-out schools and unavoidably put to work at work-sites.
Poverty: The main reason for child labour in India is poverty. Most of the country's
population suffers from poverty. Due to poverty, parents cannot afford the studies of
their children and make them earn their wages from a tender age. They send their
small children to work in factories, homes, and shops. They are made to work to
increase the income of their poor families at the earliest. These decisions are taken
only for the purpose of eking out a living for their family. But such decisions shatter
children's physical and mental state as they lose their childhood at an early age.
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Lack of educational resources: Even after 72 years of our country's independence,
there are instances where children are deprived of their fundamental right to education.
There are thousands of villages in our country where there are no proper facilities for
education. Some families are unable to afford school fees, pushing them towards child
labour as a more lucrative use of children’s time. Some cultures place less emphasis
on girls going to school and prefer that girls are prepared to carry out household tasks.
The lure of cheap labour: In the greed of cheap labour, some shopkeepers,
companies and factory owners employ children so that they have to pay less to them
and it amounts to employing cheap labour. Shopkeepers and small businessmen make
children work as much as the older people do but pay half the wages. In the case of
child labour, there is less chance for theft, greed or misappropriation of money too.
Social and economic backwardness: Social and economic backwardness is also the
main reason for child labour in India. Socially backward parents do not send their
children to receive an education. Consequently, their children are trapped in child
labour. Due to illiteracy, many times parents are not aware of various information and
schemes for child education. Lack of education, illiteracy and consequently the lack of
awareness of their rights among them have encouraged child labour.
General child injuries and abuses like cuts, burns, and lacerations, fractures,
tiredness and dizziness, excessive fears and nightmares.
Physical neglect like lack of adequate provision of food, clothing, shelter and medical
treatment.
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Lack of schooling results in missing educational qualifications and higher skills thus
perpetuating their life in poverty.
The mental and physical effects vary depending on the sector that children are working in -
In agriculture, children are often exposed to working with hazardous toxic fertilizers and
pesticides, as well as heavy and dangerous tools or blades.
In domestic work, children face the risk of being abused by their employers, working
excessively long hours or being isolated from their friends and family.
In construction, children face the risk of injury from working with dangerous and heavy
loads and lack adequate personal protective equipment.
In mining, children are exposed to working with explosives, poisonous chemicals and face
the risk of being placed in dangerous environments such as mines which are regularly the
source of collapses that can lead to serious injury or death.
In manufacturing, children are exposed to unhealthy toxins, hazardous chemicals and poor
health and safety working regulations.
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To explore the suggestive methods to regulate and
eradicate child labour by the non-governmental organisations and
government policies in India.
b) The Right to Education Act 2009 ensures all children 6- 14 years have the right to free and
compulsory education.
c) The Indian Constitution ensures the right of all children 6-14 years to free and compulsory
education; prohibits forced labour; prohibits the employment of children below 14 years in
hazardous occupations; and promotes policies protecting children from exploitation.
d) Whoever employs a child or permits a child to work is punishable with imprisonment from three
months to one year or with fine no less than INR 10,000–20,000 rupees or with both.
e) The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 defines a child as being
below 18 years of age. Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), ratified by India in
1992, all children have the right to be protected from work that is dangerous, or that might harm
children's health or education.
Our constitution provides special laws to eliminate child labour; some important ones are as
follows:
The Mines Act of 1952: Prohibition of the presence of persons below eighteen years of age
in a mine. Any person below eighteen years of age should not be allowed to be present in any
part of a mine above ground where any operation connected with or incidental to any mining
operation is being carried on.
The Apprentices Act of 1961: any individual who is 14 years of age or above and who has
minimum educational qualification as prescribed for a trade can undergo apprenticeship
training.
# Role of non-governmental organisations in reducing child labour.
They aim to achieve, eradicate economic condition, to get rid of child labour, uplift and instil
confidence among the weaker sections of the society. NGO services specialise in assessing
individual strengths and needs; setting personal goals and it provides surroundings that encourage
overall growth and development of the society.
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Social organisations in India play a vital role in reducing child labour through a range of initiatives
and strategies. These organizations focus on addressing the root causes of child labour, providing
support to children affected by it, and advocating for policy changes.
Measures taken by social and non-governmental organisations to combat child labour in
India:
By addressing the multifaceted aspects of child labour and collaborating with various stakeholders,
social organisations in India contribute significantly to efforts aimed at eradicating child labour and
ensuring a brighter future for vulnerable children.
Awareness and Advocacy: Social organizations work to raise awareness about the issue of
child labour among communities, policymakers, and the general public. They conduct
campaigns, workshops, and seminars to educate people about the consequences of child
labour.
Access to Education: Many social organisations run educational programs and schools in
areas with high child labour rates. They work to ensure that children have access to quality
education, which is a key deterrent to child labour.
Livelihood Support for Families: Poverty is a significant driver of child labour. Social
organisations implement programs that provide vocational training and income-generating
opportunities for parents, aiming to improve the economic stability of families so that they
don't rely on child labour.
Rescue and Rehabilitation: Some organisations actively engage in the rescue and
rehabilitation of child labourers. They collaborate with local authorities to rescue children
from exploitative situations and provide them with necessary support, including shelter,
counselling, and education.
Skill Development: Skill development programs are designed to equip adolescents and
young adults with marketable skills, making them less vulnerable to exploitation and more
capable of pursuing decent work.
Advocacy for Policy Changes: These organisations advocate for stronger legal frameworks
and better enforcement of laws related to child labour. They often collaborate with the
government to draft and implement policies that protect children's rights.
Monitoring and Reporting: Some social organisations engage in monitoring child labour
practices in specific industries or regions. They collect data on child labour incidents and
report them to authorities for intervention.
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Pratham: Pratham's programs aim to improve the quality of education in India and make it
more accessible to all children. They focus on getting out-of-school children into schools and
ensuring that they receive quality education.
Save the Children India: Save the Children India runs various programs to protect
children's rights, including those related to child labour. They work on issues such as child
protection, education, and health.
CRYSTAL (Child Rights and You Support Team for Research, Advocacy, and
Learning): CRYSTAL is the research and advocacy arm of CRY, dedicated to generating
knowledge, data, and evidence to influence policy and program decisions related to child
rights and child labour.
Bal Vikas Ashram (BVA): BVA focuses on rehabilitating child labourers and providing
them with education, vocational training, and a safe environment. They operate shelter
homes for rescued children.
Butterflies India: Butterflies India focuses on the rehabilitation and mainstreaming of street
and working children. They operate shelter homes, provide education, and offer skill
development programs
HAQ: Centre for Child Rights: HAQ is an organisation that advocates for child rights and
works to protect children from exploitation, including child labour. They engage in research,
legal action, and advocacy efforts.
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Conclusion
Child labour is a serious hindrance to the social and economic development of the nation.
Children employed in various sectors fail to get the necessary education, virtually forced to
lead a life of hardship and poverty. It also affects the overall health of a child, as children get
exhausted easily and are not physically fit to work for longer durations under difficult
conditions. For example, children employed in glass and firecracker industries work not only
for longer hours but also under hazardous conditions, seriously compromising their health.
They are continuously exposed to toxic gases and substances leading to various skin and
respiratory ailments.
Child labour can be stopped when knowledge is translated into legislation and action,
moving good intention and ideas into protecting the health of the children. The endurance of
young children is higher, and they cannot protest against discrimination. Focusing on
grassroots strategies to mobilize communities against child labour and reintegration of child
workers into their homes and schools has proven crucial to breaking the cycle of child
labour. A multidisciplinary approach involving specialists with medical, psychological and
socio-anthropological level is needed to curb this evil.
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Beyond legal and regulatory frameworks, governments and civil society must work to design
and implement policies which provide families and children with alternative livelihoods,
steering them away from the trappings of child labour. These initiatives must ensure that
children are at the heart of all decision-making processes, and that any useful interventions
are accessible to the children themselves.
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Limitations of the study
‘Child labour’ a widely researched and studied topic has a lot of interpretations and research
papers written worldwide which has led to a lot of repetitions too. It was a challenge to pick
up the accurate and authentic information and then analysing it. A lot of sites having
potentially good material needed a subscription to view the content. A consisting issue was
the time-consuming procedure and the time crunch simultaneously.
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Bibliography
Articles:
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