Child Labour Ruins the Life of the Children

"Child labor" is work for children that troubles them or exploits them physically, mentally and morally by depriving them the opportunity of getting educated. All work is not bad for a child; there are some kinds of work which proves beneficial for the children as long as it does not exploit them. For example, a child who does the job of delivering newspapers before school might benefit from learning how to work, learn to be responsible and earn a little bit of money. When such children cannot be paid, they are exploited. Children should not work to earn, but they should work to learn. It should not interfere their learning with their schooling, recreation and the rest of their activities.

There are many families who force their children to earn just to run their families. A child sacrifices its happiness in order to feed the family. There are a number of small menial jobs clubbed under child labor which ranges from taking care of the animals, planting and harvesting food, small kinds of manufacturing, auto repair and making of foot wear. Male kids work outside their homes and girls work as a domestic maids. Working as a maid at that young age can be harmful for the child because they can be physically or sexually abused by their employers. It should not be that the children are not given a chance to work; in fact they should be given the type of work from which they can learn. In this way they can become independent and work extra apart from their studies on their own.

Poverty is the main cause of the child labor but there are other reasons as well which make the children involved in these activities. These reasons can be due to:

1. Family expectations and traditions
2. Abuse of the child
3. Lack of good schools and day care
4. Lack of other services, such as health care
5. Public opinion that downplays the risk of early work for children
6. Uncaring attitudes of employers
7. Limited choices for women

No child is born to work when the rest of the children enjoy themselves at school or at play. Childhood is one of the most innocent phases in human life. It is that stage when they are prepared for a successful adult life. It is the phase when we are carefree, fun-loving, learning, playing. When we grow up into adults we can look back into our childhood and recall those beautiful memories. Child labor is considered illegal by law and custom. The stipulated age varies from country to country and from government to government. Child labor is a world phenomenon activity which is considered exploitative and inhuman by many international organizations. The problem of child labor that the nation faces is an age old one. Government is taking various measures to stop this problem. However, it is a socio-economic problem linked to poverty and illiteracy, so it requires strenuous efforts from all sections of the society to be uprooted.

Child Labour - Let's Stop This!

Can we eliminate child labour? Though it is a desirable goal the fact remains that in the given socio-economic scenario that is prevalent in our country, it is virtually impossible to do away with it. One cannot dispute the fact that employers exploit children by paying them much less than what they would pay in adult and the future of the working children is ruined as they will not be able to attend schools and get educated for a better future.
But when one considers the economic compulsions of the families which force the children to work, one will be compelled to admit that elimination of it will be a distant dream as long as the socio-economic status of these families is not improved.
Realizing the harm caused by it, the Indian Government made laws to protect children from exploitation at work and to improve their working condition. Besides, a comprehensive law called it (Prohibition and Regulation) Act. 1986, was promulgated to prohibit employment of children in certain hazardous occupations and processes.
In 1987, the Indian government formulated National Police on it to protect the interests of children and focus on general development programmes for the benefit of children. As a part of this policy National it Projects have been set up in different parts of the country to rehabilitate it. Under these projects, special schools are established to prove non-formal education, vocational training, supplementary nutrition etc. to children who are withdrawn from employment.
Though elimination of child labour is an impossible task in the current socio-economic scenario, the Indian government is committed to the task of ensuring that no child remains illiterate, hungry and without medical care. When this ideal will be achieved is a million dollar question.
The development countries are exerting pressure on developing countries like India to eliminate child labour. According to the current thinking the developed countries may stop imports of those goods that involve child labour in their production. In some of our cottage industries like making of carpets, children are employed in larger numbers. These carpets, which are being exported, may soon lose their market abroad if the producers of these carpets persist with child labour.
Child labour is, no doubt, an evil that should be done away with at the earliest. The prevalence of child labour reflects very badly on society that is not able to stop this evil. But in a society where many households may have to suffer the pangs of hunger if the children are withdrawn from work, beggars can't be choosers. These families have to send their children to work, even if the future of these innocents is ruined, as that is the only choice open for them to survive in this world. Therefore, unless the socio-economic status of the poor families is improved, India has to live with child labour.