Sunil Vaid
This year World Day against Child Labour on 12th June will focus on celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the adoption of the worst forms of child labour convention (199 No 182). Although significant strides have been taken reducing child labour over time, recent years have seen global trends reverse, underscoring the pressing need to unite efforts in expediting actions to eradicate child labour in all manifestations. With the adoption of sustainable development goal target 8.7, the international community makes a commitment to eliminate child labour in all its form by 2025. The world day against child labour launched by ILO (International labour Organisation) is celebrated to foster worldwide movement against child labour. The day is used to spread awareness about the harmful mental and physical problems faced by children forced into child labour, all over the world.
Children are our future and they deserve to be loved and cared. The childhood is time of learning, playing being carefree but unfortunately a lot of children in India and world are deprived of their child hood. Today, throughout the world, around 218 million children work many full times. They do not go to school and have little or no time to play. Many do not receive proper nutrition or care. They are denied the chance to be children. More than half of them are exposed to worst forms of child labour such as work in hazardous environments. Slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities including drug trafficking and prostitution as well as involvement in armed conflict.
While the percentage of children in child labour is highest in low income countries, their numbers are actually greater in middle income countries and 7% of children, are in child labour. Statistics on the absolute number of children in child labour in each national income grouping indicate that 84 million children in the child labour accounting 56% of all those in child labour, actually live in middle income countries and an additional 2 million live in high income countries. Children around the world are routinely engaged in paid and unpaid forms that are not harmful to them. However they are classified as child labour, when they are too young to work or are involved in hazardous activities that may compromise their physical, mental, social or educational developments.
The Indian Government enacted a law against child labour in 1993 prohibiting dangerous work or activities that could harm the mental, spiritual moral or social development of children less than 18 years of age. The Govt has accordingly been taking proactive steps to tackle this problem through strict enforcement of legislative provisions along with simultaneous rehabilitative measures. State Governments which are the appropriate implementing authorities have been conducting regular inspection and raids to detect cases of violations. Since poverty is the root cause of this problem, and enforcement alone cannot help solve the menace. Government has been laying a lot of emphasis on the rehabilitation of these children and on improving the condition of their families. Now is the time to be proactive about making child labour a viable issue, to initiate dialogues around it, to bring possible solutions to the table and start working towards them. The law on child labour in India provides for strict punishment for illegal labour of children but labour is still very much prevalent. The lack of implementation by authorities is the key reason. Education plays a vital role in funding solution to child labour. Let us educate each and every child which would to be the best investment a country can make for its own development. Together, everyone should pledge an oath not to support child labour. Children are flowers of our gardens. Let us, care and bloom them. They are guardians of our future.
Child labour is no doubt a harmful act to the children below 18 years of age. Despite of various rules and regulation by the Indian Govt, Child labour persists. Child labour Act of 1986, 1993 have been included in our national policy to benefit the children of age group of 6-18 years. Another programme, National Child Labour Project (NCLPs) was established by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to rehabilitate at national level the children working in hazardous occupation since 1988. According to the programme, some basic facilities are given to the children such as conducting surveys, evaluating child labour, opening social schools, pre vocational skills training, generating employment opportunities, raising public awareness etc. Around one hundred NCLP’s have been launched all over the country regarding rehabilitation of children working in hazardous industries (glass bangles, locks, brassware, slatetiles, carpets, fireworks, matches etc).
The official theme for world day against child labour is “Let us act on our commitments, end child labour”.The day underscores the importance of effective polices and legislatives to combat child labour. It calls for ratification and implementation of international convention and laws aimed at eliminating child labour and providing children with access to education, health care and safe environment. The day thrives on the rights and well being of children and better opportunities for them in future. A child should be taught to learn, not forced to earn.
Child labour is not fair, raise your voice and hand so that child labour can be banned.
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