India has the largest number of working children in the world. What is contributing to all this child labour? The major contributor to child labour is poverty. The child workers belong to a part of society that falls below poverty line. Such poor families desperately need the additional income that a child labourer’s income provides. The conditions of these families have become so bad that they are compelled to send their children to work. The worst part is that child labourers are severely underpaid. There is no welfare system or easy access to loans so many families must go to moneylenders. The poor parents have to mortgage their children to moneylenders and the child labourer’s income is used to pay off the interest on their loans or for household. Such bonded child labours can only be released when their parents make lump sum payments, which is extremely difficult for poor parents.
People believe that it is better to leave one’s homeland than to live in abject poverty, so some migrate from their homeland to other places. But most people do not get such opportunity. They are forced to live in appalling conditions in the slums of the city. They do not have access to sanitation, drinking water and are unable to sustain themselves without jobs. The women folk leave their homes to work as maids in building near-by while children are sent to fend for themselves.
Article 24 and 39 (e) of our constitution clearly states that child labour is wrong and measures are been taken to eradicate this social problem. The Government of India implemented the child labour act in 1986, outlawing child labour in particular areas and fixed the minimum age for employment at 14. Though this Act has made child labour illegal but it fails to meet the guideline of “International Labour Organisation” concerning the minimum age for employment at 15. These policies are good enough for eradicating the child labour but their implementation is the only problem. There is no use of planning and developing policies against child labour if they are not being enforced.
In combination with the poverty and unsuccessful implementation of governmental policies, inadequacy of education also plays a great role in child labour practice. Even after five decades of independence, the government has failed to provide even primary education to its entire citizen. According to UNICEF reports on education “State of World’s Children 1999”, India is the world’s most illiterate nation, out of which two-thirds of the total number are comprised of women folk. States like Kerela has got 100% literacy. The government of Kerela allocates more funds to the cause of mass education rather than limiting itself to setting up colleges and universities. The state has put forth little effort to eradicate child labour but the extension of education system to the masses has brought about a decline in ill practices. But over all, our education system is not too effective to yield basic literacy in population. Poverty has made our education system ineffective. Drop out rates are high because children are forced to work to add to finance of their families. The parents of child labour feel that work develops skills that can be used to earn money, while education plays no role in earning. Researchers say that if adults work more and not spend their money frivolously, they will not be dependent on the earning of their children, who could be returned to school. This could increase work opportunities as well as income for adults. Records say that India has maximum number of school dropouts and every third illiterate in the world is an Indian. The Indian government has taken several measures to combat the menace of child labour. The Government introduced the “Integrated Child Development Program” (ICDP) in 1975 and the “National Policy on Child Labour” in 1987. In an attempt to compulsory education Central government has started – “The District Primary Education Program” (DPEP) and planned to finance up to 85% of total expenditures.
But what type of social welfare structure do these places have? What is the attitude of people towards education? These questions should be satisfied before implying any more education policies. The result of DPEP that was implemented a few years ago did not live up to its expectations. Hopefully, the future will speak well about the success of the program towards the universal education and eradicating child labour.
India has further reasons to work towards eradication of child labour. The western countries have identified those industries, which employ child labour and have decided to boycott their products. The carpet industry is one of the largest employers of child labour and is also the highest grosser of foreign exchange to the country. Termination of further export could hit Indian economy severely. It has been noticed that an adult can weave up to 5000 to 6000 knots per day while a child can make only over 500.
Focusing on one of its causes, like education policies and unsuccessful implementation on Anti Child Labour Acts cannot eradicate child labour. The government should make sure that the need of the poor is to be satisfied first, before marching for ceasing child labour practice. The need for the child labour will die if poverty will be fed. If poverty is not fed the hard efforts of the government will be worth nothing.
Child labour is another hurdle in India’s success. The number of illiterate children is growing because they have been working and not attending the school. The vicious cycle of poverty and illiteracy is giving birth to child labour, from generations to generations. India needs to address the situation by tackling child labour through government policies and their proper implementation. Only then we will succeed in fighting child labour.
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