Child Labour
ld La CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA: CAUSES, MAGNITUDE AND POLICIES DR. ANJALI PRASAD
Department of Economics
T.P.S. College, Patna
The existence of child labour is a slur on a modern welfare state which seeks to promote the all round development of its citizens. Children are the future hope of the society. They are like buds, which need to be properly nursed and well, taken care of so that they bloom fully, grow into able human beings, and contribute their worth to the future development of the society. On the contrary, instead of being sent to schools and properly educated, they are made to word, it amounts to squeezing the bud before it blooms. In not only thwarts the development of children but of the society as well, since only able citizens make an efficient society. Hence child labour has been regarded as a evil in India since time immemorial. In ancient India, it was the duty of the king of educate very boy and girl and parents could be punished for not sending their children to schools, called Ashrams, which were really residential schools under a Guru (a learned sage). Child labour existed only in the form of child slaves who were purchased to do some low and dishonorable’ work. Kautilya (4th century B.C.) considered it degrading to make children work on such jobs and hence prohibited the purchase and sale of children below 8 years. (Kautilya’s Arthasastra). A number of legislative measures have been taken in independent India to control the evil of child labour. Article 24 of the Indian Constitution clearly states that “no child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in other hazardous employment”. Article 39 (e) states that the tender age of children should not be abused and citizens should be not be forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength. Article 39 (f) states that children should be given opportunities and
Department of Economics
T.P.S. College, Patna
The existence of child labour is a slur on a modern welfare state which seeks to promote the all round development of its citizens. Children are the future hope of the society. They are like buds, which need to be properly nursed and well, taken care of so that they bloom fully, grow into able human beings, and contribute their worth to the future development of the society. On the contrary, instead of being sent to schools and properly educated, they are made to word, it amounts to squeezing the bud before it blooms. In not only thwarts the development of children but of the society as well, since only able citizens make an efficient society. Hence child labour has been regarded as a evil in India since time immemorial. In ancient India, it was the duty of the king of educate very boy and girl and parents could be punished for not sending their children to schools, called Ashrams, which were really residential schools under a Guru (a learned sage). Child labour existed only in the form of child slaves who were purchased to do some low and dishonorable’ work. Kautilya (4th century B.C.) considered it degrading to make children work on such jobs and hence prohibited the purchase and sale of children below 8 years. (Kautilya’s Arthasastra). A number of legislative measures have been taken in independent India to control the evil of child labour. Article 24 of the Indian Constitution clearly states that “no child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in other hazardous employment”. Article 39 (e) states that the tender age of children should not be abused and citizens should be not be forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength. Article 39 (f) states that children should be given opportunities and
References: Grootaert, C., and R. Kanbur. 1995. Child labour: An economic perspective. International Labour Review 134:187-201. Human Rights Watch. 1996. The Small Hands of Slavery - Bonded Child Labor in India. New York: Human Rights Watch. International Labour Organisation. 1992. World Labour Report. Geneva: International Labour Organisation. International Labour Organization. 1993. World Labour Report. Geneva: International Labour Organization. International Labour Organization. 1995. World Labour Report. Geneva: International Labour Organization. Jain, S. N. 1985. Legislation and Government Policy in Child Labour. In Child Labour and Health: Problems & Prospects, edited by U. Naidu and K. Kapadia. Bombay: Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Mehra-Kerpelman, K. 1996. Children at work: How many and where? World of Work 15:8-9. Nangia, P. 1987. Child Labour: cause-effect syndrome. New Delhi: Janak Publishers. Narayan, A. 1988. Child labour policies and programmes: The Indian experience. In Combating Child Labour, edited by A. Bequele and J. Boyden. Geneva: International Labour Organisation. Subrahmanya, R.K.A. 1987. Can the Child Labour Act of 1986 Effectively Control Child Labour? In Young Hands at Work - Child Labour in India, edited by M. Gupta and K. Voll. Delhi: Atma Ram & Sons. The World Bank. 1995. Economic Developments in India: Achievements and Challenges. Washington: The World Bank. Weiner, M. 1991. The Child and the State in India. Princeton: Princeton University Press Shandilya, Tapan Kumar (2003), "Child Labour: A Global Challenge", Deep & Deep Publications Pvt Shandilya, Tapan Kumar (2006), "Child Labour: Eradication ", Deep & Deep Publications Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi. Khan, M.E., Anker Richard, Barge, Sandhya (2001), "Child Labour Economics Gain or Social cost?" Article published in IDPAD International Conference on Child Labour in South Asia, Vol. II, New Delhi, p. 1.