Child Laborship - Major Problem

                                   "Every child brings with it the hope that God is not yet disappointed with man," said by Rabindranath Tagore, but when I saw the celebration and SMS of "happy children's day" it is not possible to utter this noble words without shame on our face looking at the world's bonded children, millions of whom are in India, robbed of their childhood before it even to bloom? I was totally confused what was going on? The answer, unfortunately, is in negative. What should we do on children's day? And what we are doing? We cannot celebrate as make few famous children RJ and tell them to play the songs on radio or take our child to mall and shop for him. This day should celebrate for them who don’t know what is Radio or Mall. 

                              The issue of exploitative child -labor seems yet to draw serious attention. Child- labor is a global problem. In India to child- labor remains a persistent and ubiquitous problem. Still we have almost 4 million children in India employed in firework industries, brick-making industries, the carpet manufacturing industries etc. 

                        The significant causes of child-labor are poverty, large family, absence of provision for compulsory education and ignorance of parents, etc. Such children rarely ever get an education, thus adding the list of illiterate in the nation. It is the harsh reality. The psychological damage to children from another unfortunate story. They have no proper childhood, nor can they hope for meaningful adulthood. Denied love, physical care, nutrition, social stimulus, moral inputs or opportunity for education and advancement in life, they are more or less condemned in prison like environments.

                 It has been observed that child-labors are exposed to serious and continuous health hazards. The glass factories of Firozabaad near Agra are best example. Here nearly 50,000 children below the age of 14 years are working in front of furnaces; their helpless faces only a few inches away from the inferno which roars at the temperature of about 1,600° C. as a result they sustain eye injuries and burns while working at the furnaces. Bhiwandi is another area of exploitation of child - labor. The 15,000 children employed in the power-loom s work in 12 hours shift and some even 24 hrs. Stretch and inhale cotton dust which affects the linings of their lungs leading to the symptoms of T.B. bronchitis, etc. Also working in chemical industries often face the respiratory problem due to extensive use of chemicals they also suffer from severe-physical ailments, medical facilities and civic amenities are distance dreams to them.

                   Along with physical exploitation, economic exploitation of child-labor in India is also appears to have increased over the years child- labors are paid very low wages that range from 1/3 to a half of that of adults, even though their output is greater as they work for longer hours. Often, under the guise of apprenticeship, children are not paid for their work. The most shocking example can be found in Shivkashi Fireworks industry in which some 50,000 children, comprising half the number employed, literally play with every minute of their lives. Their ages range from 3 ½ to 15 years a they works for as long as 17 to 18 hours continuously at wages as low as Rs. 2/- to Rs. 5/- per day. In many instances children are kept under close watch not allowed to go to outside or have contact or talk to person when in the street. The children work long hours, some when failing to work or making mistake are kept in closed rooms, sometimes tortured and children, who try to escape, are beaten up. They are victim down the line because they have no voice.

                             In India there are stringent laws against child – labor, but for most part they are broken. Our constitution specially protect child –labor from any exploitation of any kind.

1. According to the article 24 of the constitution warns that children below the age of 14 years should not be employed in a factory, mines or any hazardous occupation.
2. Article 39 (e) urges that the tender age of children compel not to be abused and argues against being given such work that it not suited their age, strength or sex for sheer economic need.
3. Article 39(f) states that children should be given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in condition of freedom and dignity.
4. Article 45 makes it mandatory for the states to try to provide free and compulsory education to all children below the age of 14 years.

Apart from these Constitutional provisions, various acts and legislation have been enacted from time to time not only to prohibit but also to protect child-labor. At present there exist nearly 14 legislative enactments to provide legal protection to the children in various occupations. But what is harsh reality?

               Despite constitutional safe-guards, child – labor continues to be in its most dehumanizing form. The problem of child – labour and adult labor is full of ironic. Labour laws are comprehensive for adults and cover social security, basic health services and security of employment, contractual benefits and machinery for arbitration in industrial disputes. Adult workers often have the union power behind them. Adults thus have protection; children do not. What human being can bear to see such tragedy and refrain from doing something about it?


               The only way to combat this social evil is to create social awareness. But not like this k “Arey yar! What is going on? Small children are working instead of studying? People should aware about child labour!! We should protest against child labour aur baccho ko kam pe rakhanewale ko saja bhi milani chahiye!! Chalo! chai pike ate hai.”  And we shout “Hey chhotu do chai lana!!!!” here we easily forget that just before second we are talking about child – labour & whom we ask 2 cup tea that “chhoto” is also small child!!!!!!!!!!! What a reality??? We should refuse to buy products made by children whom we suspect to be below the age of 14 years. If anybody exploits the child – labour, we should be reported about such people, to the appropriate authorities. One reason why parents agree to send their children to work is that the children the augment the merge family income. If school includes vocational courses that pay for the products made, then children earn while they learn. 

                  At the same time Government resources, along with those companies willing to contribute should be channeled to finance schemes for basic facilities at the site, health coverage, nutrition programs and compulsory primary education & vocational, non-formal education. There is need to build a strong public opinion against The Child – Labourship. 

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