Factors Responsible for Child Labour in India

15/01/18

Child Protection

Causes of child labour

There is no doubt about the fact that India has been taking active measures for the past few years to fight the social ills that hinder the country’s growth and development. However, the number of child laborers across the country’s villages, slums and cities continue to rise. Despite strong steps taken by the government, the issue continues to affect the lives of thousands of children across the country. While Poor school infrastructure is a big reason behind the problem, the problem of poverty is also to be blamed.

It’s shocking to know that in most cases, the parents or relatives of the children coming from socially backward families push them towards child labour. In many cases, children are forced to quit school and work in order to earn and support their families. Childhood is a period that marks a child’s formative years of overall development and defines his or her future. Child labour does not only take away an innocent fun-filled childhood from a child, but also makes him or her miss the opportunity to experience different facets of a perfect childhood. Activists, volunteers and non-governmental organizations must form a team and fight this evil to give India a better and a brighter future.

How NGOs are taking steps to end child labour

NGOs have understood that its important to end the demand for child labour in the first place. They have been working to stop parents pushing their children into a dark world that robs them off the opportunity to study and build a future. Millions of volunteers, activists and responsible citizens have been making contributions to the movement by investing time and donating money.

1. Child abuse in small factories and industries

Various organizations and NGOs are taking strong steps by working with small-time businesses to put an end to child labour. Thousands of innocent children work in long shifts in agricultural farms, mines and stone cutting factories to earn money and support their families. It’s quite surprising that a whopping 10 million Indian children work as bonded labourers in beedi-rolling factories, brick kilns, carpet weaving industries, construction businesses etc. Most of them fall victims to commercial sexual exploitation and abuse, which impacts their mind and personality growth.

2. Introduction and implementation of new policies

NGOs like Bal Raksha Bharat have been working very hard to combat child labour in India by pushing the government towards new reforms and their implementation. This is being executed with the help of new programs that engage backward communities and the government. The Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986, was a result of the NGO’s intervention and efforts.

3. Spreading the word

It’s very important to talk to people and make them understand that the children who fall prey to child labour have to undergo a huge amount of emotional and physical turmoil. Bal Raksha Bharat works on such reports and publishes them to garner eyeballs. The NGO also works on other programs that feature anti-child labour activists, former child labourers, volunteers and celebrities as a part of its publicity campaigns.

Conclusion

Various NGOs like Bal Raksha Bharat have been going by tried-and-tested models to help the government implement new rules and policies to successfully abolish the evil practice that has been destroying the lives of innocent children. With the help of individual donations and partnership with various ministries, lakhs of children have found a new ray of hope. It’s important for us, as responsible citizens of the country, to donate and help the children coming from India’s most backward villages.

Gaurav Sharma

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