write an article on is child labour banned?
Answers
Not all children in India are lucky to enjoy their childhood. Many of them are forced to work under inhuman conditions where their miseries know no end. Though there are laws banning child labour, still children continue to be exploited as cheap labour. It is because the authorities are unable to implement the laws meant to protect children from being engaged as labourers.
Unfortunately, the actual number of child labourers in India goes un-detected. Children are forced to work is completely unregulated condition without adequate food, proper wages, and rest. They are subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Causes of Child Labour: Factors such as poverty, lack of social security, the increasing gap between the rich and the poor have adversely affected children more than any other group. We have failed to provide universal education, which results in children dropping out of school and entering the labour force.
Loss of jobs of parents in a slowdown, farmers’ suicide, armed conflicts and high costs of healthcare are other factors contributing to child labour.
A widespread problem: Due to high poverty and poor schooling opportunities, child labour is quite prevalent in India. Child labour is found in rural as well as urban areas. The 2001 census found an increase in the number of child labourers from 11.28 million in 1991 to 12.59 million.
Children comprise 40% of the labour in the precious stone cutting sector. They are also employed in other industries such as mining, zari and embroidery, dhabas, tea stalls and restaurants and in homes as domestic labour.
Conclusion: Government authorities and civil society organizations need to work in tandem to free children engaged in labour under abysmal conditions. They need to be rescued from exploitative working conditions and supported with adequate education. Above all, there is a need to mobilize public opinion with an aim to bring about an effective policy initiative to abolish child labour in all its forms.
BANNING CHILD LABOUR
Children are the future of the nation but due to poverty 70-80 million children are forced to work in many health hazardous industries. They are forced into leading an adult life. The constitution of our country prohibits children under 14 yrs from working for a living.
Yet, undernourished, semi-clad children are working in roadside dhabas, they even work in factories, brick kilns. These are sad scenes. These children should be in schools enjoying their childhood.
Everyone says small children should be in school, but it is easier said than done. The poverty stricken parents want their children to make some money and contribute towards running the household.
So the real problems are poverty and lack of education.
Yet we should call upon the government to ban child labour in any form. It does not end there, government schools should be opened to provide free education to them.