TEARS SHED HARD FOR A LOAF OF BREAD – FIGHT AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

OTHER KIDS OF MY AGE ARE FORCED TO BECOME AN IAS OFFICER WHILE THE PAIN OF APPETITE FORCED ME TO BECOME A CHILD LABOUR

Since 1991, The number of child labours in the tertiary sector has been increasing tremendously. At present these child labours are present in very high numbers in bars, restaurants, internet cafes, malls, retail chains, transportation sector, communications, banking, and business establishments. Prior to 1991 most of them were seen in primary and secondary sectors like agriculture, manufacturing industry, etc in India.

Some of them have also been working in highly hazardous and unsafe industrial establishments especially fireworks and mining. Though there were not any special economic benefits though they worked in life-threatening industries. (1)

Major causes of child labour

Though the five-year plans in the year 1951 have been contributing to the economic growth of India, the menace of child labour to has been growing whose objective was to develop the agriculture sector because nearly 90% of the Indian population lived in rural areas and depended on agriculture at that time.

People were also involved in other related activities like animal husbandry, dairying, poultry, etc for livelihood. Negligence of Credit, marketing, irrigation, electricity, and other infrastructure required for agriculture development led to poverty among many farmers and thus sown the seeds for the menace of child labour. The industrial development too did not take place on normal lines during the initial years of the planning process.

Even now nearly 65% of the population in India depends on agriculture. Failure of crops due to lack of efficient extension services and lacking support from the government contributed to the growth of child labour in India. Due to the menace of poverty, the debt-ridden families assumed that newly born children would add to their depreciating incomes. Thus the economic policies of independent India are also responsible for growth in the child labour menace in India.

Industrial sickness and other problems related to secondary and tertiary sectors too contributed to the growth of this menace. (2) Similar factors which forced the child labours are poverty previous debts and professional needs.

The act implemented against child labours in India:

The Factories Act of 1948 prohibited the employment of children below the age of 14 years in any factory. Similarly, The Mines Act of 1952 prohibited the employment of children below 18 years of age in a mine. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986 prohibits the employment of children in hazardous occupations which was expanded in 2006, and again in 2008. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) of Children Act of 2000 comprises a crime, punishable with a prison term, for anyone to procure or employ a child in any hazardous employment or in bondage. This act provides punishment to those who act in contravention to the previous acts by employing children to work.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009 which mandates free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14 years. This legislation also mandated that 25 per cent of seats in every private school must be allocated for children from disadvantaged groups and physically challenged children. (3)

Violation of the rules and regulations

If one is employing the children below 14 years old, they would be probably imprisoned for about nearly 2 years with a maximum of Rs.50,000. The child labour amendment act was passed in 2016 so as to enhance the punishment implied by the child labour act of 1986.

According to the law, no child should be employed in any occupation or process except where he or she helps his family after school hours or during vacations.

However, The Act is not applicable to a child who works as an artist in the audio-visual entertainment industry, including the advertisement, films, television serials or any such other entertainment or sports activities except the circus, provided that no such work shall affect the school education of children. (4)

To be continued with Economic Consequences of Child Labour. Until then Brainstorm with BITSATHY Blog 

One part of the children is striving hard to get the food whereas other parts of children with all sophisticated facilities are craving for “DIGITAL LOVE”.

Are you curious, what does the term actually mean? Then, Read Gadgets Bidden Adiós To Grandmother