Context:

The Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to its knees and exposed multiple fault-lines in the healthcare, education, economic, and job-related sectors. As per the official statistics around 5,31,843 deaths have been reported from India to the WHO.

The Statistics:

• A 2022 report by UNICEF and ILO said that as Covid has put children at risk of child labour globally, the number of child labour cases were expected to rise by 8.9 million by the end of 2022. 
• As per the US Department of Labour, disruption in supply chains has thrust people into unemployment leading to an increase in poverty.
• According to the last available Census data, in 2011 there were 10.1 million child laborers in India. 
• As per the National Crime Bureau Report 2022, in 2021, around 982 cases were registered under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, with the highest number of cases registered in Telangana, followed by Assam. The figures saw a significant increase from 476 cases registered under the Act in 2020.

Primary Factors Contributing to Child Labor in India:

• Lack of Affordability: Many families in India struggle to meet their basic needs and are unable to afford education for their children. As a result, children are often sent to work in order to contribute to the family’s income.
• Tradition: Certain communities and families have a long-standing tradition of involving their children in specific occupations, such as agriculture, carpet weaving, or domestic service. 
• School Factor: Many schools in India lack essential facilities, qualified teachers, and quality education. 
  • Additionally, some schools charge fees and  other expenses that are unaffordable for impoverished families. 
• Disasters: Natural  disasters, conflicts, and pandemics can disrupt societal functioning and exacerbate the vulnerability of children.
  • In such situations, children may lose their parents, homes, or access to basic services, which makes them susceptible to exploitation and forced labor for survival. 
• High Prevalence of Unemployment: The high unemployment rate and low wages in India leave many adults and young people unable to find stable and dignified employment. 
  • This situation often pushes them towards informal and hazardous work, or compels them to send their children to work in order to supplement the family income. 

Social and Economic Consequences of Child Labor: 

• Impaired Human Capital Development: Child labor hinders children’s ability to acquire essential skills and knowledge, which negatively impacts their future productivity and earning potential. 
• Perpetuation of Poverty and Continued Child Labor: Child labor often results in lower wages for unskilled work, as children are willing to accept lower pay. 
  • This contributes to a cycle of poverty, as low wages for adults and adolescents perpetuate the need for child labor to supplement household income. l 
• Stifled Technological Progress and Economic Growth: Child labor acts as a barrier to technological advancements and innovation. When children are engaged in labor instead of receiving an education, the long-term economic growth and development of a country are hindered. 
• Denial of Rights and Opportunities: Child labor deprives children of their fundamental rights to education, health, protection, and participation in societal activities. 
• Undermined Social Development and Cohesion: Child labor weakens social development and cohesion within a nation. When children are engaged in labor instead of attending school and participating in community activities, it impacts social stability  and hampers the democratic process.
• Adverse Health Consequences: Child labor exposes children to hazardous working conditions, physical injuries, diseases, abuse, and exploitation. 

What Further Actions Can be Taken to Address the Issue of Child Labor? 

• Strengthening the Legal Framework and its Enforcement: The government should establish and revise laws that prohibit and regulate child labor, aligning them with international standards and conventions. 
  • Effective implementation and enforcement of these laws are crucial, requiring sufficient allocation of resources, capacity building, coordination, data management, accountability, and strong political will. Penalties for violating child labor laws should be severe and consistently applied. 
• Providing Social Protection and Economic Support: The government should offer comprehensive social protection and economic support to impoverished and vulnerable families to prevent them from resorting to child labor as a means of survival. 
  • This can include regular cash transfers, subsidies, pensions, health insurance, and food security measures. Additionally, facilitating access to credit, savings, microfinance, and livelihood opportunities for impoverished households can significantly contribute to reducing child labor. 
• Ensuring Universal and Quality Education: The government should ensure that every child has access to free and compulsory  education until the age of 14, in accordance with the Right to Education Act of 2009 and Article 21A of the Constitution. 
  • Improving the quality, relevance, safety, and inclusiveness of education is vital, requiring investments in infrastructure, teacher training, curriculum development, educational materials, scholarships, and other necessary resources. 
• Raising Awareness and Mobilizing Action: The Government should collaborate with civil society organizations, media outlets, corporations, and citizens to raise awareness about the detrimental consequences of child labor and the importance of safeguarding child rights. 
  • Establishing platforms, campaigns, networks, coalitions, and involving Panchayats  (local self-governance institutions) can help mobilize action and support against child labor. 
• Responding to Emergencies and Crises: The government should be prepared to address emergencies and crises that heighten the risk of child labor, such as conflicts, disasters, pandemics, or economic shocks. 
  • Providing humanitarian aid and protection  to affected children and families, including essentials like food, water, shelter, healthcare, and psychosocial support, is critical. 
  • It is also essential to ensure the continuity of education and social protection services  during and after these crises. 
• Post Rescue Rehabilitation: It is vital that children after they have been rescued from the jobs where they were employed illegally, are integrated and assimilated into the education system to build a better future for them. 
  • District and local administrations have to take proactive steps to ensure this part of the post rescue rehabilitation as it is the most vital element to ensure that they do not once again get trapped in that cycle of exploitation.
• Special Care and Protection: The vulnerabilities of children demand the extension of special care and protection for them on account of their mental and physical immaturity.

News Source: The Hindu BusinessLine