It is truly said that “a child
is the father of the nation”. Moreover, it is the child who is a citizen of
tomorrow, it is the child who is responsible for the future or progress of
country and the society we are living in. Children are the real mirrors of the
society and so, the progress of a child reflects the development of the society.
One of the major challengers that is visible globally now a days, is a problem
of CHILD LABOUR.
Millions of children in the
world have been forced into the practice of child labour due to non-schooling
or due to school dropping outs or due to poverty at the initial stage.
“Child labour” in books, is
defined as the “one who is illiterate at the age of 14 years and whose
physical, mental and social development has suffered due to his pre-mature
employment. Due to various circumstances small children are being forced to
work and so they lack the pleasures of childhood.
A report published in the
year 2000 by the World Bank has revealed that “there are six crore working
children in India” which is the largest in terms of any country in the world.
These children work in agricultural farms and lands or are engaged in
industrial occupations.
Child labour is the social
evil that has been crippling in the society since very long time. It’s presence
can be felt wherever we go, from a rural village to a metropolitan city. These
children work in almost very sector of the economy. Most of these children are
working in factories or ‘Karkhanas’ which is illegal, so young children are
being illegally employed in such professions as they are innocent and can be
paid less. Poverty, illiteracy and insufficient resources in the family are the
few reasons which are responsible for the child labour. Child labour is undoubtedly
one of the biggest challenges in our country. Various articles of the
constitution prohibit the employment of children in factories like under
Article 24 , it has been stated that no child below the age of 14 shall be
employed in any factory or mine or any other hazardous occupation or work and
many more.
In order to eliminate this
practice, children should be provided with opportunities so that they can
develop in a healthy manner and in a free and literate environment in which
they can be protected against exploitation of their child and youth and
moreover, their immaturity, as child labour is also developing a maturity level
in children before their age which brings cleverness and corruption to a small
extent.
“Child labour, thus, is an
evil that requires awareness and the change of approach among all sections of
the society of a country”.
To
stop child labour, firstly a legal action should be taken against those who
employ children in work.
So,
the government, media and NGO’s have to unite to play their strong role in this
holistic task. Only then
the problem of the child labor can be resolved
efficiently.
By
Anmol
Tiwari