Society Should Become More Sensitive Towards Children

Dr. Kriti Bharti, Rehabilitation Psychologist, Managing Trustee of Saarthi, Member- International Advisory Group of NI3, U.K.

  What is child labour and the key reasons for child labour in India and across the world? A child below 14 years if found employed or working in any occupation or processes is a child labour. Employment of children below 14 years in any form in any occupation and process is prohibited and attracts the penalty provisions under Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. Any Adolescent in the age of 14 to 18 is prohibited to work or employed in any occupation or process set forth in Part A of the Schedule of hazardous occupations and processes under the above Act. In other words we can say, Child Labour is a violation of all child rights. It makes the children to live like an adult, continuously working for long hours for low wages under conditions which damage their physical, psychological and social development. Sometimes they are separated from families, deprived from health, education and other developmental opportunities which leads to a good future. Sometimes we see child trafficking, sexual abuse, child marriages are directly connected to child labour cases. Key Reasons- Generally the reasons behind Child Labour are- Poverty, Unemployment of Adults and Adolescents, Migration, Emergencies like Covid -19, Social inequity, Cultural malpractices like Child Marriages, Bonded Labour, Transmission of traditional occupation, Boredom towards Mid-day meals schedules and other non-attractive and tough curriculum of Government schools. Also, employer keeps child labour as he has to pay low wages and can find an active worker in comparison of adults. I am sharing one incident- Once in a rescue I asked a boy who was working on a street sugarcane juice stall that- I will make arrangements for your school. Do work after completion of your studies. His reply has made me think of political, economic and social structure of India. He said- Where are jobs in India? After becoming an adult, getting a college degree can you guarantee me a job according to my education and need??? Didi, then I will not get any employment because of government structure. I would have to go to shops like this to find a work. So why not today while this job is feeding my family?? I am learning how to work and in next 2-3 years with the help of money lenders I will also open my street stall. When I have to come at street corner for a job after a degree and age so why I should not start working today. Later I counseled him regarding studies. But he was somehow correct at his point. There is no employment for a person having degree. Government is even saying that don’t expect anything from Government. Go and Become Self dependent. So in my view… Government’s perspective and attitude is also the reason behind Child Labour.   What is the estimated figure of Children engaged in labour work in India and more specifically in the construction sector? According to data from Census 2011, the number of child labourers in India is 10.1 million of which 5.6 million are boys and 4.5 million are girls. A total of 152 million children – 64 million girls and 88 million boys – are estimated to be in child labour globally, accounting for almost one in ten of all children worldwide. Children are still being working in severe forms of child labour such as bonded labour and trafficking. Child labourers can be found in all over India in a variety of industries like in brick kilns, carpet weaving, garment making, ornament making, aari-taari work, domestic work, food and refreshment services (such as tea stalls), agriculture, fisheries and mining. Children are also at risk of various other forms of exploitation including sexual exploitation and production of child pornography, including online. In next Census authentic data will say the exact condition. But I personally do not believe in these data as this is conducted by government. As a field social activist I can see child labour at every street, every corner, and every mohalla and in every city of India.   What are the key steps required to tackle child labour problem at the level of society? Government, NGOs and society can together make a difference. At society level, whenever we see a child labour working at any occupation- we should asked the employer to not to keep child labour at his workplace. He can give work to the adult of the child’s family and make arrangements of child’s study. If he don’t agree we should avoid buying things from the particular shops (I personally don’t buy yhings from the shop who keeps child labor). Also can inform to police and child welfare committees constituted under Juvenile Justice Act. Along with this one can sponsor to child’s education and rehabilitation.   The role of government in tackling child labour and child rights problem Government has taken many initiatives from 1986 to curb this problem. Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. Juvenile Justice and other acts which can connects to child labour like Factories Act, Right to Education Act etc. There are reporting agencies too like PENCIL portal, Special Juvenile Police Units, District Task force, Labour Inspector, District Magistrate, Child Welfare Committees Childline 1098, District Nodal officer, States & National Child Rights Commissions, District/ State/National Legal Services Authority, National Child Labour Society etc. Despite of allocation of funds, various Acts and reporting agencies I can say that Government is failed to curb abuse & exploitation against children in forms of child labour, child marriages, sexual offences and others. The main reason behind this is lack of implementation and lengthy processes. One can go into a field area and can find how much these Acts and agencies are implemented??? How much a stake holder informative about rules, laws and legislations??? How much these stake holders are sensitive towards children??? When Government itself is not sensitive towards child rights issues then how can you expect these stake holders to eradicate abuse and exploitation of children???   How can we bring this problem to an end? To eradicate any issue we have to work together. When Government, NGO’s and society will came on same platform and think & work collectively into one umbrella can solve any big or small child rights issues. On Government part- Economic Growth and equally distribution of money will also take this issue to an end. Strictly Implementation of Rules, Laws and legislations and Awareness among stake holders is the need of this hour. NGO also should come forward for rescues and rehabilitation of children, changing of mindests of society and can fill gaps which we can see in government rules and laws and of course in the part of implementation of all the structure. One and all, Ngos can be a support system and a bridge to government as well as to the communities. Society should also become more sensitive towards children. They can sponsor a child for education and livelihood, inform the agencies while they see any child labour and can be a part of overall rehabilitation of a victim of child labour.