Child Labour-Myth and Truth

Our country has more than 12 million chid workers below the age of 14.....more than any other nation!For the past two decades we were advocating and rambling about the solutions for guaranteeing children their rights.Under these circumstances the Union ministry has issued a notification-A ban on employment of children under the age of 14 in hotels,restaurants,resorts,road side eateries,recreational centres.The ban also covers prohibition of employing children for domestic help.The ban will come under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulatory Act 1986)The step taken by the government is aimed at helping the chidren who are subject to various social violence and it will create a favourable impact on the lives of millions of children in our country.Both the central and the state government are exercising numerous welfare measures for these neglected children.Unfortunately many of their initiatives have failed to create a better position for these children.Hence it is high time to analyse the root cause for their problem and to chalk out corrective measures in accomplishing the objectives.

A large number of children in our country are deprived of food,education...due to various reasons.Even today we all hold a myth that poverty is the prime factor for child labour.There are several other explanation for child labour beyond poverty.Very often we try to run away from those realities by putting the entire blame on a single factor.Various causes that attribute to child labour are :a)Poverty
b)Family background
c)Lack of proper education among the family members
d)Indifferent attitude of the society including those who employ them
e)Absence of a strict mechanism to monitor the implemantation of the law.

Although the government is taking steps to curb child labour,there arises an important question-To what extent the government will be successful in achieving their mission towards the eradication of child labour?Under these circumstances i would like to cite two examples.

Anti Dowry Act came in to force in 1961.Still Dowry is considered as an inevitable component in marriages in our country.Among certain communities dowry is fixed as a base upon which the alliances are made.Hundreds and thousands of dowry deaths are taking place ever year.It is very disheartening to say that the system of dowry is prevalent in the educated upper section of the society.

Inspite of the existence of Child Marriage Act,innumerable number of female children are getting married even before they attain 18 years of age,and the most saddening thing is that, they give birth to a child at a very young age.Thus the physical and the mental health of the girl are totally ignored.

In both the above cases, the society remains as a mere spectator..unable to take any action against the persons who perform the unlawful acts.

In this context the child labour act has to be examined carefully,and loopholes should be thrown out so that stringent action can be taken against those who do not abide by this law.The objective of the law can be attained by carrying out simple measures such as
a)Creating an awareness among the parents and children.
b)Encouraging the chidren to go to schools.
c)The crucial factors ...parental care,food,primary education,protection from social violence and the freedom to exercise their right should be brought under the purview of the child labour act.
d)The three "R" raids,rescue operations and rehabilitation must be done in an effective manner.
e)Devising a suitable system to support as well as to ensure the smooth functioning of this legislation.
The remedial measures cannot be implemented in an overnight.The NGO'S and the union ministry must strengthen their campaign against child labour, so that it will put a fear in the minds of people that violation could invite punishment.They should constantly review and evaluate their activities ,so that results can be attained at a greater pace.Above all the citizens of our country should humanize the law,so that the neglected children can be transformed into educated youth of our nation.

(Written on Friday, October 13, 2006)