17 million Child Labourers In India

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June 2008, Bangalore: June 12, observed as Anti-Child Labour Day, is an occasion to re-look at the child-labour scenario globally. In this context, with 17 million child labourers, its an official number we Indians can never be proud of. The government has taken steps. There are bans in certain industries employing child labour yet obviously this is not enough and fails to deliver the expected results.

We have been independent for 60 yrs and the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, together with all other legislations, covers only 15% of the total child labour population in the country keeping out sectors like agriculture that employs close to 80% of the child labour. “Since the1990"s, Census data has only shown increase in number of children labouring across the country. So have years of changing governments ever intended to eradicate the issue from its roots?" asks Ila Hukku, Director -Development support,Child Rights and You.

Regina Thomas, Regional Director – South, CRY adds, “According to Census, 2001, there were 1.27 crore child laborers in India. Another 37 lakh children were seeking jobs. Even these figures were an underestimate, based on a narrow definition of child labour, where child is defined as persons of age 5-14 years (and not 5-18 years), and "labour" is defined narrowly as 'economic activities'. Such a definition has a potential to exclude a number of children's activities that are irregular and unremunerated, as well as the work performed in spaces such as on the street, within homes and farms".

And these numbers are not just statistics but are tangible and visible everywhere. Bans are necessary but can only address the problem partially. The need of the hour is to recognize that child labour is a manifestation of poverty and inequity in society. This is the root cause and unless tackled, the numbers will keep growing.

The State must wake up to the need to fight poverty by tackling inequality that stems from inaccessible, low quality, and discriminatory schooling for a large section of children; the lack of employment and living wages for adults; lack of remunerative prices for primary products and lack of market access; lack of access to credit, lack of a concerted social welfare scheme to safeguard against hunger, illness and customary requirements; corruption and apathy among government officials; and historical socio-economic relationships based on the hierarchy of caste, class and gender. Child labour is the direct impact of these discriminations on the children.