CHILD LABOUR
SOME SWEET ONES
SOME BITTER ONES
CHILD LABOUR
• Child labour is not only a social problem but also an
economic one
• A child who is employed in activities to feed self and
family is being subjected to “child labor”.
• Carpet industry requires fine little fingers to weave the
finest and tiniest knots to create the most expensive of
carpets
• Firecrackers industry probably prefer kids to men
because they are cost effective and efficient
• Even house hold labour-children last longer and are
more honest than adults; is a claim made by most home
makers.
Some Facts…
• 73 million working children are less than 10
years old
• While buffaloes cost up to 15,000 rupees, children
are sold at prices between 5,00 and 2,000 rupees.
• 47 out of 100 children in India enrolled in class I
reach class VIII, putting the drop rate at 52.79%.
• Approximately 16.64 % of villages in the country
do not have facilities for primary schooling.
(UNICEF)
• 42 million children in the age group of 14-16
years do not attend schools in India.
Causes of Child Labour
• Over Population: limited resources & more mouth
to feed, children are employed in various forms of
works.
• Illiteracy: Illiterate people do not realize the need
for a proper physical, emotional and cognitive
development of a child.
• Poverty: Many times poverty forces parents to
send their children to hazardous jobs.
• Urbanization: Industries in the developing world
employs children , particularly in the garment
industry.
Causes of Child Labour
• Orphans: children who do not have parents and support
are forced to work for their own living.
• Willingness to exploit children: This is at the root of the
problem. Even if a family is very poor, the incidence of
child labour will be very low unless there are people
willing to exploit these children.
• Unemployment of Elders: Elders often find difficulty to
get a job. The industrialists and factory owners find it
profitable to employ children. This is so because they
can pay less and extract more work. They will also not
create union problems.
Causes of Child Labour
• Lack of Social Security network- for poor there
are a few sources of loans, as a result they go to
local money lenders, with whom the parents
exchange their child’s labour.
• Parents’ attitude
• Lack of compulsory education
• Inadequate schools
• International economic trends
• Public opinion
Effects
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Physical injuries and mutilations
Pesticide poisoning
Growth Deficiency
Exploitation of female children
Unemployment of adults
Hindrance to literacy
Long- term health problems
HIV/ AIDS and other sexually transmitted
diseases
• Exhaustion and Malnutrition
Solutions
• National Policy on Child Labour was
formulated 1987.
• Prohibition of children being employed in
hazardous occupations and processes.
• Poverty being the main cause government
created employment.
• Supplementary nutrition and regular health
check ups so as to prepare them to join
regular mainstream schools.
Child Labour
The Silent Killer….
Children are remarkably
imaginative resilient- but also
heartbreakingly fragile and
vulnerable.
“ So le us share their dreams
And shape their future”