Business I Environment I Society - Rajesh K Satpathy

Social Issue

# 5

Child Labour in India

Child Labour in India

Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work thatdeprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability toattend regular school, and that is mentally, physically, socially ormorally dangerous and harmful.

This practice is considered exploitative by many internationalorganizations. Legislation across the world prohibit child labour.These laws do not consider all work by children as child labour;exceptions include work by child artists, family duties, supervisedtraining etc.

Child Labour in India

Child labour has existed to varying extents, through most of history.

Before 1940, numerous children aged 5 to 14 worked in Europe,the United States and various colonies of European powers. Thesechildren mainly worked in agriculture, home-based assemblyoperations, factories and mining. Some worked night shifts lasting12 hours.

With the rise of household income, availability of schools andpassage of child labour laws in various countries, including Indiathe child labour rates are in downtrends now.

Who is a Child ??

A child is defined as "... every human being below the age ofeighteen years unless, under the law applicable to the child, amajority is attained earlier." Article 28 of this Convention requiresStates to, "make primary education compulsory and available freeto all.“

- The United Nations ,

Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990

Child Labour & Our World

Child Labor in Pre-Industrial societies…

Child labour forms an intrinsic part of pre-industrial economies. Inpre-industrial societies, there is rarely a concept of childhood in themodern sense. Children often begin to actively participate activitiessuch as hunting and farming as soon as they are competent.

Child Labour & Our World

Child Labor in Pre-Industrial societies…

Child labour forms an intrinsic part of pre-industrial economies. Inpre-industrial societies, there is rarely a concept of childhood in themodern sense. Children often begin to actively participate activitiessuch as hunting and farming as soon as they are competent.

The Industrial Revolution…

With the onset of the Industrial Revolution in Britain in the late18th century, there was a rapid increase in the industrialexploitation of labour, including child labour in Industrial cities suchas Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

Child Labour & Our World

The Victorian era in particular became notorious for the conditionsunder which children were employed. Children as young as fourwere employed in production factories and mines working longhours in dangerous, often fatal, working conditions.

Early 20th century

In the early 20th century, thousands of boys were employed inglass making industries. Glass making was a dangerous and toughjob especially without the current technologies. The process ofmaking glass includes intense heat to melt glass (3133 °F). Whenthe boys are at work, they are exposed to this heat. This couldcause eye trouble, lung ailments, heat exhaustion, cut, and burns.

Child Labour & Our World

The Victorian era in particular became notorious for the conditionsunder which children were employed. Children as young as fourwere employed in production factories and mines working longhours in dangerous, often fatal, working conditions.

Early 20th century

In the early 20th century, thousands of boys were employed inglass making industries. Glass making was a dangerous and toughjob especially without the current technologies. The process ofmaking glass includes intense heat to melt glass (3133 °F). Whenthe boys are at work, they are exposed to this heat. This couldcause eye trouble, lung ailments, heat exhaustion, cut, and burns.

Child Labour & Our World

21st Century

Incidence rates for child labour worldwide in 10-14 age group, in2003, per World Bank data. Child labour is still common in manyparts of the world. It ranges between 250 to 304 million, if childrenaged 5–17 involved in any economic activity are counted.

Child Labour & Our World

21st Century

Some 60 percent of the child labour was involved in agriculturalactivities such as farming, dairy, fisheries and forestry. Another 25percent of child labourers were in service activities such as retail,hawking goods, restaurants, load and transfer of goods, storage,picking and recycling trash, polishing shoes, domestic help, andother services. The remaining 15 percent laboured in assembly andmanufacturing in informal economy, home-based enterprises,factories, mines, packaging salt, operating machinery, and suchoperations.

Child Labour & Our World

21st Century

Some 60 percent of the child labour was involved in agriculturalactivities such as farming, dairy, fisheries and forestry. Another 25percent of child labourers were in service activities such as retail,hawking goods, restaurants, load and transfer of goods, storage,picking and recycling trash, polishing shoes, domestic help, andother services. The remaining 15 percent laboured in assembly andmanufacturing in informal economy, home-based enterprises,factories, mines, packaging salt, operating machinery, and suchoperations.

The colour code is as follows: yellow (<10% of children working),green (10–20%), orange (20–30%), red (30–40%) and black(>40%).

- Incidence rates for child labour worldwide in 10-14 age group,(World Bank 2003 Data)

Children & India Statistics on Underprivileged Children in India…

>> Children constitute over one-third of India’s population of 1.21billion people, which means India is home to 400 million children.

>> Every sixth child in the world lives in India (Ministry ofStatistics and Programme Implementation- MoSPI, 2012)

>> India has 10.12 million child labourers aged between 5 to 14years (National Census 2011)

>> An estimated 11.6 lakh children die every year within one yearof their birth due to lack of immunization. (Ministry of Health andFamily Welfare, Government of India)

>> Roughly 50% of all working children are girls (data fromgovernment reports)

Thank You!