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CHILD LABOUR
Child Labour and Society  Society

Child labour is the result of lack of social

security/poverty/unemployment and excess population. Unless strict
measures are adopted by the international community, child labour
cannot be eradicated. There should be joint efforts by international
societies and local governments to reform and minimise poverty,
bring social security in unorganised sectors and curtail excessive
growth of population. We have to understand as to why children go to
work. If parents don't send their children to work, factories will not be
able to exploit them. Are the children forced by their parents to go to
work? If yes, why?​
Nearly 30% of the population in poor countries are the poorest of the
poor who are not able to earn enough for one day's food. Parents of
these children are mainly illiterate or semi-literate. Some percentage
of child labour comes from brutality/ harassment by parents or
step-parents. They are mainly from urban areas of lower
middle-income group. This percentage is easily controllable by
penalties to such parents and by children's rights. But rural poverty,
lack of employment or partial employment and illiteracy has given
birth to majority of child labour problems.
Our understanding should be a little more practical, as no parent
wants the child to work at an age when he/she is meant to study and
play. The system of child labour prevails in countries, which are poor
or underdeveloped. Nearly 70% of the world’s poor live in Asia alone
and the major contribution is made by China, India, Pakistan, Nepal,
Afghanistan and Bangladesh. In India alone around 45% of the
population (of one billion) is illiterate/semi-literate who are not able to
find jobs in modern industries.​
Poverty and population: 
The governments in Asia should boldly make decisions to control
excessive growth of population even if it means taking harsh
decisions. This can be achieved by announcing incentives and
disincentives. Illiterates have their reasons - religion is one of the big
factors that illiterates misunderstand. Religious leaders can be taken
into confidence, for this would definitely spell partial success. Second
reason being that 'more the children, more the income'. This
perception is definitely wrong and dangerous. We have to put an end
to it.
● Steps To Control The Problem: 
● Entitlement of subsidized food articles and services. Subsidy can
be allocated by grading a small/big family and this would help in
the long run.
● Entitlement of government positions and promotions depending
on the size of the family.
● Each central/state/district and local area head to be made
responsible and accountable in his or her legislative area by
mutual agreement to upgrade their areas.​
Industries: 
Populated countries with higher level of poverty should work for
industrialization that is helpful for all categories of the population
such as literate, semi-literate and illiterates. Governments of these
countries should mainly concentrate on modernization and heavy
industries. Of course, in the present world, modernization of
industries is very important to withstand the international competition
and standards. Cottage industries such as agricultural instruments
and tools handloom/ handicrafts/ poultry farms, etc., can be
encouraged. Scope of these sectors has to be widened as they have
the capacity to consume mass level of workers. Governments and
international institutions should come forward to upgrade the quality
and measures to bring costs as low as possible and take steps to
improve its demand for these products. This could be done by
inviting private sectors' and international organizations' participation
to bring know-how for research and development and promote
demand of such products. W.T.O and other international agencies
also can be helpful by allocating minimum quantity quota required for
imports with incentives to boost demand. Governments should
identify traditional or suitable products from rural areas, which can be
promoted scientifically without affecting the traditional grace and also
make sure of the availability of raw material and distribution at the
best possible price.
Education and Training: 
Child labour is today a subject that has deteriorated in its purpose
rather than getting the problem solved, for due realisation has not set
in. In some families, due to unavoidable reasons children are the only
source of income for the entire family. Such children when they are
deprieved of factory or shop work have no choice but to beg and sell
odd items in the streets of urban areas or become child prostitutes.
Many children are made to indulge in these activities by the
atmosphere prevailing in society. The ultimate objective of a child is
to earn and feed the ailing mother or parents.
The governments and NGOs or other international organizations can
help by launching schemes of education-based earning. That is the
study-and-earn system. Items may be identified from those areas,
which are suitable to young children. It would be an educational
apprenticeship with basic education provided. This is not a crime but
support to a needy child and better understanding of the crisis. We
can identify the poor parents, who don’t send their children to work
due to financial crisis, and support by donation to educate their
children. It is a little tricky though, as some parents may take the
money and not send the child to school. In such cases donations
should be based on school attendance. School students from urban
areas could be asked to visit their rural counterparts. Not only will the
rural children be educated but it will also provide an opportunity to
urban students for social involvement with the rural population.
Higher education becomes purposeful when it updates the plights
and brings ideas to solutions.
Also social involvement of college students with the rural village
population will bring social awareness and better practical education.​
Besides fighting for child labour, the NGOs should also come with
new ideas to restore the parents' employment opportunity by
suggesting to the respective governments to work with a
committment. International community has a responsibility towards
poverty. There should not be a vast gap between the poor and rich.
International organizations and community need to come forward and
 
renew their way of thinking.​ [​ i]

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[i]​D​IMPLE GROVER
FRIDAY,21AUGUST,2009