Child LabourA Major Problem in the World

In this Presentation.....

Introduction

Condition in India

Statistics

Causes

Consequences

Counteracting Measures taken by the Government

Conclusion

Credits

Introduction

Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations. Legislations across the world prohibit child labour.

Condition in India

Poverty, lack of good schools and growth of informal economy are considered as the important causes of child labour in India. The 2001 national census of India estimated the total number of child labour, aged 5–14, to be at 12.6 million, out of a total child population of 253 million in 5-14 age group. A 2009-2010 nationwide survey found child labour prevalence had reduced to 4.98 million children (or less than 2% of children in 5-14 age group).

Statistics

The Recent Statistics and Surveys show that Child Labour is mostly concentrated on Africa. Child Labour in negligible in Central Asia, Europe and America. In the Arab States, Child Labour is neutral. Child Labour is still mostly practiced in parts Sub-Saharan Africa, South, West and East Asia.

Causes

With little or no access to schooling, children are forced into employment at an early age in order to survive

Children may also have to act as unpaid domestic servants in their own home, taking care of the family's needs while parents work.

The demand for cheap labour by contractors means that children are often offered work in place of their parents.

Children may also be sent into hazardous jobs in favour of parents, who can less afford the time or money to become ill or injured.

Child soldiers are forcibly enlisted into military service and operations.

Employers often justify the use of children by claiming that a child's hands are vital to the production of products such as hand-knotted carpets.

Young workers are unaware of their rights and in many countries the legislation is not effective enough to support these workers.

Consequences

Working long hours, child labourers are often denied a basic school education, personal development and emotional support from their family.

Physical injuries and mutilations are caused by badly maintained machinery on farms and in factories.

Pesticide poisoning is one of the biggest killers of child labourers. In Sri Lanka, pesticides kill more children than diphtheria, malaria, polio and tetanus combined. The global death toll each year from pesticides is 40,000.

Growth deficiency is prevalent among working children, who tend to be shorter and lighter than other children; these deficiencies also impact on their adult life.

Long-term health problems, such as respiratory disease and a variety of cancers, are common in countries where children are forced to work with dangerous chemicals.

Exhaustion and malnutrition are a result of underdeveloped children performing heavy manual labour, working long hours in unbearable conditions and not earning enough to feed themselves adequately.

Counteracting Measures taken by the Government

The Government has made efforts to prohibit child labor by enacting Child Labor Laws and Acts in India including :-

1986 Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation)

The Mines Act 1952

National Policy on Child Labour, formulated in 1987

National Child Labor Program in 1988

Child labor Act of 1986. (Prohibition & Regulation)

The Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education Act, 2009

Orissa Child Labor Act (Prohibition & Regulation)

Conclusion

The social malady of Child Labor can be brought under control, if each individual takes responsibility of reporting about anyone employing a child below the age of 14 years. Thus, instead of ignoring on should find out about reporting child labor and how such children can actually be saved. Beyond this there are almost 55 million bonded child laborers hired across various other industries. Child labor can be controlled if the government functions effectively with the support of the public.

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Some Bitter onesMake us feel their Suffering

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