The Evil Of Child Labour In India

1. The Evil Of Child Labour In India Childhood shapes adulthood. It’s very important to have a secure childhood to develop the necessary skills needed to progress in the modern world. But sadly, millions of children across the world have to start working to earn a living at this tender age. Labour at such a young age deprives children of their childhood and the potential that they have. This creates life-long trauma and can result in serious psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, guilt, and hopelessness. Millions of children in India have their childhood snatched from them. According to the 2011 census, there are 10.1 million child labourers in India. They have to perform a variety of jobs: some work in factories being exposed to harmful chemicals, some in plantations, and many can be seen working as domestic help or on the roadside dhabas. Causes Of Child Labour In Inda Major causes of Child Labour in India- Poverty- India is home to millions of people living in poverty. Poverty is the main reason behind child labour. When families cannot afford to meet the basic needs of their children, they are often forced to make their children work to supplement their income. Often these children are sold by their families to lessen their burden. Both poverty and child labour are interlinked. One cannot be eradicated without tackling the other. ●

2. Debts- In order to meet their daily needs, poor people are forced to borrow from money lenders. Lack of funds results in their inability to pay back the debt and they have no other option but to render their services to the creditor. Often, families drag their children to work so that they can help them pay off the debt. ● Migration- People moving from rural to urban areas is a quite common thing in India. Also, due to situations of conflict and war, a huge number of people are displaced from their native place. Amongst these people, children are the most vulnerable to exploitation including child labour. The chances of child labour in such places are twice as high as anywhere else. ● Conditions Of Child Laborers Children are exposed to hazardous living conditions. They have to work for long hours and face a number of problems. Many children face a number of health issues because of the unhygienic and toxic working environment. There are numerous physical and mental health issues that these children go through. Stress, anxiety, depression, back pain, and tuberculosis are the most common of them. Many suffer from long-term health issues such as malnutrition, injuries, and psychological conditions. They are often subjected to sexual abuse that scars them for life. Government Laws Against Child Labour The government of India has enacted various laws for stopping child labour in India. These laws include the Bonded Labor (Abolishment) System Act of 1976 and the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill of 2016. Various committees and institutions such as the Gurupadaswamy Committee have also been set up to investigate the exploitation of children. There are also a number of non-profit organisations that have been working towards child welfare in India. Despite so many initiatives by the government, child labour is still a major issue in India. To tackle this problem, more stringent laws need to be formulated and enforced. How Can You Help In Stopping Child Labour? Small steps can lead to big results. Many things can be done on an individual level to prevent child labour. Here are a few of them. ● Never be a part of any activity that supports child labour. ● Raise your voice against child exploitation whenever and wherever you spot it. ● Educate people around you about the laws against child labour ● Support organisations that are working for child welfare. Kailash Satyarthi Child Foundation- NGO Dedicated To Child Welfare Kailash Satyarthi Child Foundation (KSCF) has been working since the 1980s to tackle the problem of child labour in India. Building on Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s work, the NGO has saved thousands of children from the shackle of child labour over the years. The NGO has made some groundbreaking contributions in stopping child labour in India. The NGO is dedicated to stopping child labour and bringing a change in the condition of millions of underprivileged children in India.

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