How to Prevent Child Labour in India?

Children are the future of any nation as they are the ones who will grow to brace the nation’s economy in the coming future. Hence, it is the responsibility of every citizen to take proper care of the children so that they do not have to face darkness such as childhood labour. 

Child labour is a concerning issue worldwide. According to the UNICEF 2021 report, the number of child labourers has surged to 160 million, marking the first increase in two decades. Both the International Labour Organization and UNICEF caution that an additional 9 million children are now at risk due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is Child Labour?

Childhood labour is the concept in which children are enforced into any kind of manual task. Though the idea of child labour is noticed across the world, the condition is devastating in India. 

In India, children even below the age of 10 years are seen working at different places for an earning. The pathetic part is that there are also some cases where these children work without pay because their parents took a loan and were not able to repay them. This is known as bonded labour. Also, many children start working as young as 5 years on farms with their families.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines child labor as any form of work that jeopardizes a child's physical, mental, social, or moral development and hinders their access to education. This encompasses tasks that pose mental, physical, social, or moral risks. Child labor not only deprives children of educational opportunities but also them to drop out prematurely or struggle to balance schooling with demanding work schedules. So, there is an extreme necessity to get a solution for child labour to protect the future of the country.  

Impact of Child Labour on Mental and Physical Health

Child labour has a profound and detrimental impact on both the mental and physical health of children. For instance, children engaged in labour often suffer from malnutrition, lack of proper healthcare, and exposure to hazardous environments, which can impair their physical growth and development. Other ways that child labour impacts these kids physically are:

1. Injuries and disabilities

Children are frequently employed in dangerous occupations, such as mining, construction, or manufacturing, where they are at high risk of sustaining injuries, disabilities, or even losing their lives due to accidents or exposure to toxic substances.

2. Exposure to health hazards

Child labourers are commonly exposed to harmful conditions, including excessive noise, dust, chemicals, or extreme temperatures, which can lead to respiratory problems, skin diseases, and other chronic health issues.

Not only that, but children involved in labour, particularly in exploitative or abusive situations, can experience psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, which can have long-lasting effects on their mental well-being. Other impacts of child labour on their physical health include:

• Lack of education and socialisation: Child labourers often miss out on educational opportunities and socialisation with peers, which are crucial for their cognitive and social development and prospects.
  
• Emotional and behavioural problems: The stress and trauma associated with child labour can manifest in emotional and behavioural problems, such as aggression, withdrawal, or substance abuse, further compounding their mental health challenges.
  
• Lack of childhood: Child labourers are deprived of their childhood, missing out on play, leisure, and other activities essential for their overall development and well-being.

Causes of Child Labour on Social Environment in India

Child labour causes has shown a massive impact on the social environment in India. Children who are forced to work are deprived of basic child rights like education and leaving them illiterate most of the time. Also, as children are not physically fit for hard labour, it takes a toll on their physique as well.

According to the International Labour Organization, children aged between 5 years to 17 years are exposed to hazardous work environments, especially boys, that definitely takes a toll on their health somehow. 

If the labour problem in India is continuously sorted by utilizing children, then the future of the nation is in danger. These children will go up illiterate and with lesser development. So, they will not be able to contribute much to the nation’s economy, ultimately adding to the country’s doom. 

How We Can Stop Child Labour in India? 

It is extremely necessary to stop child labour in India to see a nation that is booming and prospering. Indian Government has incorporated many regulations to prevent child labour such as making employment below 14 years a punishable offense. But it is the responsibility of every individual to do their bit. Here are some of the essential ways how the citizens of India can help in controlling childhood labour in the country. 

1. Educate & Spread Awareness

Most childhood labour is a result of unawareness among parents. Traffickers mostly target children of such parents who are illiterate and such children end up being in the pithole of child labour. It is extremely essential to educate such parents and spread awareness about the different child rights in India as well as the reasons why educating children is essential. Also, when the bad consequences of child labour are explained in a proper way, many parents mold their minds and look toward the development of their children. 

2. Create Awareness of the Laws & Policies

A strict law is extremely essential to curb the situation of child labour. India has come up with Article 24 according to which no children below the age of 14 years should be engaged in any hazardous environment for work. Different NGOs are working on these policies and laws along with the authorities to prevent child labour. 

3. Educate Child Labourer's Parents 

While spreading awareness has motivated many parents to enrol their children in schools, there are still many parents who consider earning more important than education. Often major problems in India and their solutions require one-to-one conversation. Hence, it is essential to have a discussion with such parents to understand their problems and then offer a solution to eradicate child labour. Many NGOs like CRY India working to stop child labour , convince parents of many child labourers in order to offer these children a new life by sending them to school instead of work. 

4. Stop people to employ children in homes, shops, factories, etc 

One of the major reasons why child labour is not reduced is that people do not stop employing children. So, responsible citizens of India should take preventive measures to stop other people from employing children in homes, shops, and factories. One of the ways is to stop buying items from a shop that has employed a child for work. When children will stop getting work, half of the issue will get solved here. These children will go to school rather to make a great future. 

5. Partner With NGOs 

It's evident that individuals may feel limited in their ability to address the issue beyond raising awareness and engaging with parents in their immediate community. Therefore, to make a broader impact on society, one solution to combat child labor involves participating in various movements and campaigns organized by NGOs. These NGOs focus on grassroots efforts to achieve tangible outcomes. Collaborating with relevant authorities further enhances the effectiveness of such initiatives. Simply by partnering with these NGOs, individuals can contribute to the collective effort to combat child labor and support initiatives aimed at its eradication.

6. Send more children to school 

Two of the major reasons for child labour are poverty and labour problems in India. Most parents cannot afford education for their children and so they consider children to be a useful resource for employment. But today there are so many solutions of child labour such as free elementary education, mid-day meals, and others that can surely motivate children as well as their parents. It is only that parents should be educated about these schemes and ultimately send more children to school. 

While child labour is one of the major problems in India and their solutions are still being incorporated, many individuals have succeeded in prevention of child labour and offering a dignified life to many children so that they can cherish their childhood like other children. Governments can just make policies, following them and preventing child labour from occurring is the responsibility of the citizens.

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