Indian child labor among the highest in the world
Hazratganj Market, Lucknow. Children under the age of 14 are selling balloons which is not legal, because according to law it’s child labor.
November 14, 2017
Child labor has been an international concern in countries like India as well as other developing countries.
In countries, with high poverty and little educational opportunity, child labor is still prevalent and is found in rural as well as urban settings.
Child labor, or the employment of children is illegal in many countries.
According to an Oct. 21, Washington Post report, India has one of the world’s largest economies. But despite its wealth, 33 million children from ages 5 to 18 are working — and almost one third of this group are under the age of 15 according to the organization, Save the Children India, making India home to one of the highest concentrations of child workers in the world.
It is estimated in this report, that child labor is not declining because children are paid considerably less compared to adults and it saves lots of money for those who gain to profit most.
In a 2016 report from Unicef, child labor is frequently utilized in India in various places of production and services such as small scale industry, restaurant service, domestic aid, shopkeeper’s assistant, stone breaking, book binding, tea stalls, garbage pickers and in the house-hold industry.
As many children work in the informal sector they manage to escape the scrutiny of the labor inspectors and the media. In the same report, there are an estimated 150 million children aged five to 14 engaged in child labor worldwide.
Akshara Asthana, a journalism student in India spoke to Northeast Valley News about the future of children in India without strict employment laws against child labor.
“All nations must take strict rules against labor child, and they can prohibit the child labor by rules. Some are exploiting child labor for financial benefit, while children’s future is turning to dark without education and care of parents,” said Asthana.
Vishesh Mishra, is a working journalist and street photographer who witnesses firsthand the devastating toll on children in India.
“Child labor is destroying the future of India. We must understand that the little hands belong to school not tools,” said Mishra.
Rakesh Sudan • Nov 15, 2017 at 6:55 pm
The child labour in India,or in its neighboring countries has three dimensions-demand,supply and Govt.As for India,the demand for child labour comes from those who wish to do cost cutting thru lower wages.Contractors in construction sector argue that work for child is a pre-condition from the parents or relatives who themselves work under the same contractors.They put the onus on supply side.Poverty,in the wake of the absence of social security of the unreserved poor class is a major source of child labour.Quite often,the child labour in household sector comes as a stop-gap arrangement when the main worker is on leave.With mindset of avoiding manual labour,more n more activities come to be outsourced from servants,n gradually the stop gap child worker comes to be absorbed as full time worker.
Govt in these countries act only on political compulsions,vote bank being the key drive to govt policy initiatives.Child labour, though decried by social organisations,media n intellectuals from time to time,like other social evils-corruption,child n women trafficking ,govt doesnt think beyond formal existing provisions like Prohibition of Child Labour act.
Megan Young • Nov 15, 2017 at 10:21 am
Really well done! This is an important reminder. Great coverage.