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According to experts, poverty is certainly the greatest single force driving children to the

workplace. This happens particularly in families with many mouths to feed where the parents’
income is quite insufficient to support a large family.

Another reason is the tradition that children are expected to follow in their parents’ footsteps
in a particular trade, and to learn and practise that trade from a young age.

People in the rural areas still hold the belief that a girl is better prepared for adult life by
doing household chores than by going to school.

Sometimes family dysfunction can be a reason. There may be parents with a strained
relationship having frequent conflicts or others who indulge in alcoholism and other vices,
making the home uninhabitable for the children. As a result, children go into the street and

start working for their survival.
Traditions and local customs push poor families into indebting themselves heavily for social

occasions or religious events, then relying on their children’s income to pay off the debts.
Last but not the least, the poor quality of schooling is perceived as

irrelevant and a waste of time. They do not see education as a viable
alternative to work.

The Indian government has been working relentlessly to eradicate
this deep-rooted evil. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation)
Act, 1986 prohibits employment of children below the age of 14 years.

However, this law needs to be strictly implemented.
More stringent laws need to be made to effectively combat this social
evil. People must be discouraged from employing children in homes,

shops, hotels, factories etc. Locals must be educated about reporting
instances of child labour. Awareness should be spread among parents who send children to

work.
Fighting child labour requires a multi-pronged push. There is a need to make this a ‘People’s
Movement’.

Every little action of ours counts in the fight against child labour to help children have a

better tomorrow. Let’s make a beginning!

Word Power

passed away: died uprooted: move a person away from home paddle: move through water in a boat

canoe: small boat untangle: straighten out capsized: (boat) overturned in water
NGO: Non-Governmental Organization that provides services rehabilitation: restoring to normal life
hazardous: harmful chores: household work ill-treated: not treated well

counselling: process of listening and giving advice to someone pessimistic: think negatively

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