could be employed for less
pay, better utilized in factory
environment, lacked knowledge
of their basic rights, and
possessed higher trust levels.
The practice of child labour
continued even in the post-
Independence
India,
though
the
government
continued
to take legislative measures
against
child
labour.
The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights passed in 1948
incorporated the basic human
rights and needs of children
for proper progression and
growth in their younger years.
• Article 24 of the Constitution
bans engagement of children
below the age of 14 in
factories, mine s, and other
hazardous
employment.
• Article 21A and Article
45 promise to impart free
and compulsory education
to all children between
the ages of 6 and 14.
• The Child Labour (Prohibition
and Regulation) Act enacted
in 1986, prohibited children
younger than the age of 14, from
being employed as child labour
in hazardous occupations.
• In 2009, India passed
the Right of Children to
Free
and
Compulsory
Education
Act
(RTE).
• The Child Labour (Prohibition
and Regulation) Amendment
Act,
2016,
passed
by
Parliament, prohibits “the
engagement
of
children
in all occupations and of
adolescents in hazardous In recent times, children are
occupations and processes”. engaged into activities such
as beedi-making, brick kilns,
Here adolescents refers to those carpet weaving, commercial
under 18 years; children to sexual exploitation, construction,
those under 14. The Act also fireworks and matches factories,
imposes a stringent penalty dhabas, hotels, hybrid cottonseed
on anyone who employs or production,
leather,
mines,
permits adolescents to work. quarries, silk, synthetic gems, etc.
“Stop Child
Labour
There Is No Reason,
There Is No Excuse,
Child Labor
Is
Child Abuse”
The government should bring
down the incidence of child labour
through reform and investment in
education. Mid-day meals should
be re-emphasized; homeless
children should be provided
housing through the Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan
boarding
schools,
and laws banning child labour
should be more strictly enforced.
Government
authorities
and
civil
society
organizations
need to work in tandem to free
Nevertheless, child labour has children engaged in labour
now led to alarming proportions. under
abysmal
conditions.
As per an estimate, India
contributes to one-third of Asia’s They need to be rescued
exploitative
working
child labour and one-fourth from
and
supported
of the world’s child labour. conditions
with
adequate
education.
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