Child labour cbse project, Essays (high school) of English

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BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

• This is to certify that Joyal Shaju of class 12 - A has successfully completed the investigatory project in englis entitled
• “Child labour in India” during the year 2024 - 2025 8/16/2024 2

THE LOST SPRING

"Lost Spring" by Anees Jung tells us about children in India

who have to work instead of going to school. These kids

are from poor families where everyone, even young

children, must earn money to survive. They miss out on

education and playtime because they work long hours in

tough conditions. The book shows how these children are

treated unfairly, paid very little, and often taken

advantage of. It reminds us how important it is for every

child to have the right to go to school and enjoy a safe and

happy childhood without having to work too early.

The story highlights how these children are treated

unfairly, receiving low wages and often enduring

exploitation and abuse. It shows the harsh reality of their

lives, where they have little chance to escape poverty or

improve their futures. Despite their hardships, the book

also reveals their resilience and hopes for a better life.

"Lost Spring" calls attention to the urgent need to protect

children from labor exploitation and ensure their right to

education and a childhood. It encourages us to recognize

the importance of providing opportunities for these

children to learn and grow, rather than being trapped in a

cycle of poverty and labor from a young age.

LIVES OF

CHILDREN

In "Lost Spring" by Anees Jung, Saheb and Mukesh are two children whose lives are depicted to show the harsh realities of child labor in India. Saheb is a boy who works as a ragpicker in Seemapuri, a town near Delhi. He belongs to a family of ragpickers who migrated from Dhaka in Bangladesh. Saheb's family lives in a makeshift hut made of straw and plastic sheets. They scavenge through garbage dumps to find items they can sell to earn a meager income. Saheb spends his days sorting through trash, enduring the stench and filth of the garbage piles. Despite his young age, he works tirelessly alongside his family to make ends meet. He dreams of going to school like other children, but the reality of poverty forces him to work instead. Mukesh, on the other hand, is a boy from the same town who works in a small dhaba (roadside eatery). His family, like Saheb's also struggles to make a living. Mukesh works long hours washing dishes and cleaning tables at the dhaba. He too dreams of a different life, one where he could go to school and have a better future. However, his family's financial situation compels him to work and contribute to the household income.

CAUSES OF CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA 1. Poverty Poverty is the most significant driver of child labour in India. Families living in poverty often have no choice but to rely on their children's labour to make ends meet. Parents struggling to provide basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and clothing, see child labour as a means of economic survival. At CRY India, we understand that addressing child labour's root cause necessitates efforts to alleviate poverty. Our programs focus on creating awareness of the importance of education and how it can lead to better employment opportunities for their children in the future.

2. Economic Pressures on Families Families burdened with economic pressures due to unemployment, underemployment, or mounting debts may resort to child labour as a means of supplementing their meager income. This is often a heartbreaking choice made out of sheer desperation.CRY India strives to break this cycle by connecting parents with MNREGA job opportunities and other social welfare schemes. We work to empower parents to improve their financial stability, thereby reducing their dependence on child labour. 3. Lack of Quality Education The absence of quality education is a significant barrier to breaking the cycle of child labour. Many children in India do not have access to proper schools, or if they do, the quality of education may be subpar. When quality education is not accessible, children are more likely to enter the workforce prematurely.At CRY India, we believe that education is the key to transforming lives. We work tirelessly to ensure that every child has access to quality education, encouraging them to dream beyond their circumstances by helping them get access to the government benefits like scholarships and education materials.

4. Lack of Child Labor Awareness A lack of awareness about the detrimental effects of child labour perpetuates the problem. Some families may not fully comprehend the physical, psychological, and emotional toll that child labour takes on their children. CRY India's awareness campaigns play a crucial role in educating communities about the harmful consequences of child labour. We conduct workshops, seminars, and awareness programs to inform families, communities, and policymakers about the importance of eradicating child labour. 5. Conflicts & Mass Migration Conflict situations and mass migrations, whether due to internal strife, natural disasters, or economic instability, disrupt families and expose children to the harsh realities of labour. In such situations, children often find themselves without a proper support system. CRY India actively works to support children in conflict-affected areas and during mass migrations, providing them with essential services, counselling, and access to education, aiming to rebuild their lives. 6. Gender Disparities Gender disparities are a significant contributor to child labour, as girls, in particular, often face discrimination and are more likely to be engaged in unpaid domestic labour. This deprives them of the opportunity to receive an education and enjoy their childhood. CRY India is committed to addressing gender disparities by advocating for equal opportunities for boys and girls, empowering girls through education, and creating a more equitable society for all.

COUNTRIES WHERE THE SOCIAL EVIL OF CHILD LABOUR IS RAMPANT

• Child labor remains a significant issue in many parts of the world, particularly in countries where poverty, lack of education, and weak enforcement of labor laws contribute to its persistence. Some of the countries where child labor is rampant include:
• 1. India: With a large population and widespread poverty, child labor is prevalent in various industries such as agriculture, construction, and domestic work.
• 2. China: Despite economic growth, child labor persists in sectors like manufacturing, mining, and agriculture, often in rural areas with poor oversight.
• 3. Bangladesh: Garment factories and informal sectors employ a significant number of children, often under hazardous conditions.
• 4. Pakistan: Child labor is prevalent in agriculture, brick kilns, and domestic work, where children are subjected to exploitation and abuse.
• 5. Nigeria: Many children work in agriculture, mining, and as domestic servants, facing risks such as trafficking and hazardous conditions.
• 6. Indonesia: Child labor is found in agriculture, mining, and domestic work, with many children working long hours in unsafe environments.
• 7. Democratic Republic of Congo: Children are involved in mining of minerals like cobalt and coltan, often under dangerous conditions. 1

8. Myanmar: Children work in agriculture, construction, and as domestic helpers, with inadequate protections and limited access to education.
   9. Afghanistan: Conflict and poverty have led to high rates of child labor, including in agriculture, carpet weaving, and as street vendors.
   10. Philippines: Child labor persists in agriculture, fishing, and domestic work, despite efforts to enforce labor laws and improve access to education. These countries face challenges such as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, weak enforcement of child labor laws, and cultural norms that perpetuate child labor. Addressing these issues requires concerted efforts from governments, international organizations, and civil society to enforce laws, improve access to education, and create economic opportunities for families to reduce reliance on child labor

• Social Disintegration: It disrupts family and

community dynamics as children are forced into

work instead of receiving proper care and

education. This can lead to a breakdown in social

structures and intergenerational poverty.

National Consequences:

• Economic Implications: It deprives children of

education, leading to a less skilled workforce,

reduced productivity, and limited opportunities for

economic advancement.

• Human Capital Loss: It results in the loss of

potential human capital as children are denied

education and skill development. This diminishes

the nation’s capacity to compete globally and

achieve sustainable development goals.

• Social Welfare Burden: The physical and

psychological consequences lead to increased

healthcare and social welfare costs for the nation.

Governments must allocate resources to address

these issues, diverting funds from other critical

areas.

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CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA (A CASE STUDY) 1 4 For the past five months, our screens have been flooded with distressing imagery of one catastrophe after another: From the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable communities, to cyclones in West Bengal, Odisha, and Maharashtra. From locust attacks in the central and northwestern plains, to the floods in Assam and Bihar. All of these have had disastrous effects on the Indian economy— millions in the country lost their jobs or were forced to take pay cuts, economic activity in rural India came to a halt, and migrants were forced to walk hundreds of kilometres back home. Amidst these ‘visible’ problems, there are other issues that have remained ‘invisible’. One such issue is the effect of the pandemic on children, specifically, an increased risk of child labour. COVID-19 has made children more vulnerable to child labour The numbers related to child labour in India were bleak even before the pandemic. Census 2011 data suggests that the total number of child labourers in India between 5-14 years of age is 4.35 million (main workers) and 5.76 million (marginal workers)—a total of 10.11 million. Further, the total number of adolescent labourers in India is 22.87 million

What is the Indian government doing to address this issue?

• The Indian government has adopted several laws in the past few decades to combat child labor. These laws include the Bonded Labor (Abolishment) System Act of 1976 and the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill of 2016. The Indian government has also set up committees and institutions such as the Gurupadswarmy Committee to investigate the exploitation of children.
• The Ministry of Labour and Employment has also implemented numerous projects to rehabilitate child workers since the late 1980s. Non-government organizations (NGOs) such as Care India, Child Rights and You and Hand in Hand India have been set up to help the government in its fight to end child labor. What forms of child labour are there (Where do child labourers in India work? According to a study by the ILO, the majority of the world's child labour (around 71 percent) is done in the agriculture sector, including cotton plantations and rice fields. Around 17 percent are employed as service staff, mainly as domestic workers or in restaurants, and another 12 percent of child labour is spread across jobs in the industry sector, including dangerous activities in mines. Many child labourers in India are working for starvation wages in textile factories, helping with the processing of carpets, or doing back breaking work in brick making factories and quarries. Other child labourers work selling cigarettes, called "Bidis", on the street for the tobacco industry. Children are also used for cheap labour in industries such as steel extraction, gem polishing and carpet manufacturing. A staggering number of girls are victims of child trafficking in India, whether through traditional bondage or through organized crime. The commercial sexual exploitation of children is among the worst forms of child labour and in India there are around 1.2 million children involved in prostitution. 1

Child labour in India: a persistent problem Ambiguity in the law

• The report, from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development Committee, added that India needs to introduce a uniform legal definition of a ‘child’, as there was ambiguity in the definition of a ‘child’ under various employment laws. It also concluded that, although India has ratified various International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions on the prohibition of child labour, the government has a long way to go to achieve its commitment to ending all forms of child labour in the next few years.
• The committee therefore called on various central and state government ministries to take coordinated action to tackle child labour, including amending policies and laws aimed at banningthe practice.
• The committee warned that discrepancies in the definition of a ‘child’ under India law needed to be clarified to better protect children from exploitation and make it easier to bring prosecutions and other action against those who illegally employ children.
• For example, the panel noted that under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 (CALPRA), a ‘child’ means a person who has not completed their 14th year of age, or such age as may be specified in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, whichever is more. 1

Wider Poverty

• Although the Indian economy has grown significantly

in recent few decades, poverty remains widespread,

and commentators say this remains the main reason

why children are forced to work and leave school

before the legal minimum age. For poor families,

struggling to meet their basic needs, forcing their

children to work at business establishments is a way

of obtaining desperately needed income.

• However, these children endure unimaginable

hardships, often work in hazardous environments, are

subjected to exploitation and are regularly deprived of

their right to education. They are the victims of

poverty, inequality and a lack of opportunities, and

many are also in danger of being fatally injured at

work.

• Children belonging to poor families are often found

working in a variety of industries, such as brick kilns,

carpet weaving, garment making, domestic service,

food and refreshment services (such as tea stalls),

agriculture, fisheries and mining.

• According to a report by the Kailash Satyarthi

Foundation, and the 2011 census projections, India will

have 7.8 million child labourers in 2023, comprising a

male–female ratio of 57 per cent and 43 per cent

respectively.

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Industries Where Child Labour Is A Common Occurrence

• Child labor remains a serious issue in many industries

across the world, particularly in developing countries.

Some of the key industries where child labor is

commonly found include:

• Agriculture: children often work on farms, plantations,

and in harvesting crops such as cocoa, coffee,

cotton, sugarcane, tea, and tobacco. Hazardous

tasks can include handling pesticides, heavy lifting,

and long hours under harsh conditions.

• Textiles and Garments: many children are employed

in the production of textiles and garments, often

working in sweatshops under poor conditions. Tasks

include sewing, dyeing, and embroidery

• Mining and Quarrying: children work in mines and

quarries extracting gold, diamonds, coal, and other

minerals. The work is extremely hazardous, involving

exposure to toxic substances and the risk of cave-

ins.

• Construction: in some regions, children are found

working on construction sites, doing tasks such as

carrying materials, mixing cement, and brick-making.

The work is physically demanding and often unsafe.

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