Child Labour in India; Situation and Policy Analysis

Abstract

Child labour is certainly a serious problem throughout the world (an estimated 158 million children aged 5-14 are engaged in child labor - one in every six children in the world) and it would be no understatement to say that India itself has a large force of child labourers. For this the Indian government and the Industrial sector have both drawn flack from not only foreign governments and International organizations but also brand conscious MNC’s. also published on the web-site of the Indian Embassy in Washington, children under fourteen constitute around 3.6% of the total labor force in India. Of these children, nine out of every ten work in their own rural family settings. Nearly 85% are engaged in traditional agricultural activities. Less than 9% work in manufacturing, services and repairs. Only about 0.8% works in factories. With this paper we wish to throw light upon the prevailing child labour condition in India, the reason for child labour in india,the effectiveness of the existing legislations and the future steps to be taken.

Keywords: Child Labour, India, Situation, Policy Analysis