Magnitude of Child Labour in India
Child Labour is very serious problem in India and the world. The age when the child is supposed to play and enjoy, has to go to the school and learn the education instead he is thrown for doing hard labour, engaged into employment and compelled to work at restaurants, hotels, mines, factories, garages etc.
According to Chairman of the U.S. National Child Labour Committee, the term “Child Labour” is generally used to refer to any work by children that interferes with their full physical and mental development, the opportunities for a desirable minimum of education and of their needed recreation.”
Due to Child Labour the emotional , physical, mental, intellectual, imagination, creativity development of the child is prevented. They are mercilessly without paying any penny, scolded at every moment, humiliated like bonded labourers is hateful act. The employer wanted to give less payment or no payment but get the work done from these children like an adult labour. It is very pitiable and regrettable practice.
According to the census of India, 2001 (India), more than 12 million children in the age group of 5-14 are engaged in child Labour. The ILO (International Labour Organisation) estimated 44 million and Global march Against Child Labour an NGO claimed 60 million Child Labourers in India.
The United Naitons International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has determined child labour is an exploitative if it involves –
- Full time work at too early age;
- Very long and arduous working hours;
- Work that exerts undue physical, social or psychological stress;
- Inadequate wages;
- Work that hampers access to education;
- Work that undermines a child’s dignity and self-esteem such as slavery, bonded labour and sexual exploitation.
People of India must think on this problem of Child Labour seriously as it is a vicious act to employ children. The people must come forward against the exploitation of children and compare these working children with our own children and treat them likely. They must be rescued from such places and rehabilitated in government schools, remand homes or adopted by the people concerned.