Adrish Guha Majumder
ABSTRACT
Taking a view of the present scenario of child labor in India, related laws and its shortcomings, the article deals with the subject of child labor which is an enigma now a days in India and in the world scenario. It introduces itself with the definition of child labor, its causes, practice, problems and consequences of the same. It takes into consideration the various measurements taken to curb this problem. It canvasses the legislative, administrative and judicial actions . It briefly explores through the provisions specially for the child welfare, directive principles and the specific child labor laws as a part of the legislative actions .It encompasses the national law commission reports on child labor and the international conventions . It talks about the 11th five year plan enacted to curtail the evils of child labor. It cites the examples of the ILO (international labor organization) reports and views on the concerned topic under administrative actions . As a matter of confirmation and implementation of the laws, the article converse about the previous court cases as a part of the judicial actions. These laws were enacted but unfortunately it is not effective because of the half hearted measures and lack of implementation. It cites various examples where it can be seen that, instead of various measures taken , the problem of child labor is increasing paying no heed to the measures. The law has been lacking in constant work-force and it is very important to combat the main problems that are prevailing now a days and thus it need to be amended and modified according to the situation. The article itself gives some remedies and suggestions to restrain the problem to some extent as possible with the help of law.
1. INTRODUCTION
‘Share is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lines are free from fear and want and that they grow up in peace – Kofi A. Annan
i. What is the Importance of child welfare in the present civilized society?
In a layman language, civilized society means a society or a community which is enriched with substantial amount of culture in it. Now this amount of culture , its growth and development depends on the well being of a child. A child is full of vigor and this should be nurtured to get the best benefits. They should be provided with congenial atmosphere around them for their proper growth.
The child is a soul with a being, a nature and capacities of its own , who must be helped to find them , to grow into their maturity, into fullness of physical and vital energy and the utmost breadth, depth and height of its emotional, intellectual and spiritual being; otherwise there cannot be a healthy growth of a nation
It should be ensured that behind the mask of social service or upliftment and evil design of child trafficking is not lurking. It is the duty of the State to ensure a safe roof over an abandoned child
ii. What is child labor?
Generally child labor is the activity they perform ( objectionable) , which exploits them mentally, psychologically, physically. There are no universally accepted definitions of child labor, it varies. According to some social scientists child work is always unobjectionable, suppose a poor child is working in a stationery shop helping the owner, then it is not child labor but if in this case this little child is not paid or has been forced by the owner to do other hectic tasks then the child becomes a child labor. The moment the activity leads to the exploitation of the child resource then it becomes rigidly objectionable. According to U.N conventions child labor means all the activities regarding soldiering and prostitution. But in this case prostitutions is not considered as child labor because these are the utter illegal sources and this is only practiced in case one do not have any other options to choose.
A large number of children work in cottage industries producing carpets, matches, firecrackers, bidis, brassware, diamond, glass, hosiery, hand loomed cloth, embroidery, leather goods, plastic, bangles and sporting goods
iii. Classification of child labor
Child labor can be classified into child labor, street children, bonded children, working children and children for sexual exploitation as given by the 11th five year plan by the national commission for protection for child rights.
A recent state wise figure reveals that Andhra Pradesh topped the list with over 19 lakh child labor followed by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Bihar, each accounting for over two lakh
iv. Who is a child?
Like the definition of child labor , child also don’t have a particular precise definition. An universal definition of child was given by the constitution to fit all the situations and the definitions are allowed to vary with the laws, contexts and situations .
International conventions describe ‘child’ as any person who is under 18 years of age.
A child is one who has not completed 15 years of age
‘Child’ means a person who has not completed his fourteen year of age . Again the census also treats persons below the age of fourteen as children. The constitution of india debars a child below the 14 years to be employed in any factory or mine or any hazardous employment. ‘Child’ means a person who, if a male has completed 21 and if a female not completed 18 years .
v. Issues with child labor
Stunted growth for future generation: children are exploited only when they are being forcefully employed to any objectionable tasks. This really hampers the decent growth of the child and thus it do not give the space to build a bright future generation
Effecting human rights: in our legislation there are the constitutive rights of a child. Again in there are certain rights as in human beings are born free, right to life , liberty and security , right to recognition , no one should be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment . Right to survival, right , property , promoting high standards of health and nutrition , mental health should be protected , right to play and leisure
Effecting RTE(right to education): In the Indian constitution, article 45 deals with the compulsory education that the state shall Endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years. Again in article 46, it deals with the promotion of educational and economic interest of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other weaker sections. Clearly, child labor violates the articles concerned.
Other than that the serious consequences are inability to harness human resources, adult unemployment, perpetuation of poverty, increased illiteracy , affecting the health and nutrition of the child, perpetuation of ill-treatment
Child trafficking:
In this era child trafficking is at the grass root level, child trafficking is the transportation, transfer, recruitment of children. This is generally done by act of coercion. They are trafficked generally so that the owner can have the work done by them without proper payments. Child labor is a part of the child trafficking.
Due to this, judicial activism has taken some steps to confront child trafficking and thus there was immoral trafficking act 1986. In a certain case, the H’onble High Court of Bombay observed that the traffic in children is not confined only to what larger scale than innocent Members of this House may be aware – in what is known as White Slave traffic, namely, the buying and selling of young women including minor girl for export or import, from one set of countries to another; and their permanent enslavement or servitude to an owner or proprietor of the establishments of commercialized. In addition to this it was held by H’onble Supreme Court that a proper cell be created by Women and Child Welfare Department of the State of Maharashtra in order to rehabilitated victim of trafficking in society and proper vigilance that should be acted upon periodically
In another case it was observed that children, who are being likely to be grossly abused, tortured or sold for the purpose of sexual abuse or illegal acts they will have to be produced before the Child Welfare Committee. Furthermore, the H’onble High Court of Bombay gave directions to state for Rehabilitation these victims of trafficking
Another gross problem of child labor leads to sexual exploitation. This generally happens with the young female child who is treated as mere goods and is transferred to brothels every year and they are only used as the characters of the sex industry prevalent in India. For this immoral trafficking resulting to prostitution there is one law enacted ‘suppression of immoral traffic in women and girls act of 1956(SITA)
This child trafficking problem cannot be restrained in isolation. The judiciary should take some survey about the subject to get the perfect figure of the child trafficking cases happening. it is a pernicious social ill, so it needs very stringent regulation governing it , the government as well as the non-governmental organizations should be a rigid watchdog for the same.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES-
The problems of child labor are prevailing for many years even times before the drafting of the constitution. So the role of constitution as a major part of social justice also very much includes granting justice to the children resulting in the incorporation of some special provisions to ensure justice to the children.
‘Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth’(article 15). But clause (3) of article 15 serves an exception to the respective article. It states that the ‘nothing in this article shall prevent the state from making any special provisions for women and children.
Right to education has been made as a fundamental right (article-21A) by constitution (86th amendment) Act 2002. In this context the court observed that right to basic education is implied by the fundamental right to life (Article 21), when read in conjunction with the directive principle on education (Article 41). The Court held that the parameters of the right must be understood in the context of the Directive Principles of State Policy, including Article 45 which provides that the state is to Endeavour to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of the Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children under the age of 14 . So, the child is also entitled to enjoy all the fundamental rights.
Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labor (article 23). Though this article do not talk specifically of children but they are necessarily included because now a days children are the most trafficked . their exploitation results in the violation of the above article.
Prohibition of employment of children in factories(article 24) . no child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment as an additional security ensuring the proper justice to a child. In this context the Supreme Court directed that the employers of children below 14 years must comply with the provisions of the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act providing for compensation, employment of their parents / guardians and their education
DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF THE STATE POLICY
The underlying principles of the directive principles of the state policy is ‘ to fix certain social and economic goals for immediate attainment by bringing about a non-violent social revolution’ . it is also under the directive principles of the state policy where it has been tried to come into force some provisions in part IV to promote justice and equality in life, also in case of child labor
That the health and strength of workers , men and women , and the tender age of children are not abused and that the citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength (article 39e).
That the children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment (39f). in this context there was a case where the main issue under consideration of this case was relating to welfare measures for laborers working in mining leases. The court laid down comprehensive measures for the rehabilitation and supportive working environment of the laborers working in mine leases
Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years( article45). Promotion of the educational and economic interests of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other weaker sections of the society. (article 46)The children are trafficked and are worst sufferers who belong to these category of people because of the poverty and backwardness they face very often, so this will be effective in facing the problems child labor also.
Duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health (article 47). As this principle is there to effect the better health of the public very much directs towards the better health of a child also, because this is very inevitable in case of children.
CHILD LABOR LAWS
THE CHILDREN (PLEDGING OF LABOR) ACT, 1933
extended over all India except Jammu and Kashmir, but after sept1,1971 it has been executed to Jammu and Kashmir also. It brought into light the conditions under which the children worked. It has been very often noticed that the labor of the children is being pledged by their parents in lieu of some benefits, basically economic benefits. main object of this act is to eradicate the evils arising from the pledging of child labor generally done by their parents or employers in lieu of certain loans and advances. After this enactment, any person making such type of agreement should not taken into consideration any more rather than they will be subjected to penalty under this act.
THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN ACT, 1938
is applied to whole of India. To prevent overtime, unhealthy environment and hazardous employment of children, it was enacted .The act fixed the minimum age at which children work in passengers, goods or mails by rail or in the handling of the goods at dock wharves or quays at 13 years. The act also prohibited employment of children under 15 years of age in occupations connected with the transport of goods passengers or mail on railways. The minimum age for handling goods for stocks was raised from 12 to 14 years which was the age fixed by Indian ports act 1908. The period of rest was to include at least 7 consecutive hours between 10 pm and 7 am, prescribed in it.
CHILD LABOR ( PROHIBITION AND REGULATION) ACT 1986
was actually enacted to regulate the working conditions under which the children work under exploitative conditions. This act prohibited the children from work under the age of 14 years. According to section 3 of the act, it prohibits the children to work in certain occupations and environment as specified in the schedule of banned occupations as per part A of the schedule to this act. Part B of this act has added one more process into the existing list and that is ‘building and construction industry’ all are same as the existed one. There is also some mentioned process where no child is permitted to work as per section 2 of the act. Punishments are also provided by section 14 of this act where there is fine up to twenty thousand in case of any employments contravening section 3 of this act. Any police officer has the right to file a complaint of an offence under this act in any court of competent jurisdiction
FACTORIES ACT, 1948
defines a child as one who has not completed 15 years of age. This is an absolute prohibition of employment of a child who has not completed his fourteenth year. The acts prohibits a child to do certain works as per section 22(2) of the act. Prohibition of a young child in employing or dangerous machines as per section 23 of this act. Prohibition of employment of women and children near cotton openers as per 27 of this act. Provides for token to be supplied by employers and kept by non-adult workers as per section 68. It also provides for certificate granted to an adolescent workman that he is an adult as per section 70. Specific working hours for children as per section 71. Section 75 of this act also empowers the inspectors to require any such person for re-examination by surgeon and he may prohibit the employment.
MINES ACT, 1952
includes the excavations where some obtaining or extraction is going on including all bearing, bore-holes and oil well, all levels of inclined plans in the course or being driven in or adjacent to and belonging to a mine. It strongly prohibits the children to perform this type of work. He/she is only then allowed when they are above 16 years of age and they have a medical certificate of their own which is only valid only for 12 months as per 43 of the act. It also provides working hours for adolescents as per section 44 of this act. It also instructs and empowers inspector to take medical examination of a person employed in a mine if a child or adolescent. Section 68 of this act provides for penalty for employment of children under 18 years of age which contravenes section40 of this act which prohibits the employment of a child under the age of 18 years and the convicted is punishable with fine up to five hundred rupees.
MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1958
prohibits employment of children below 15 years on sea going ships. Here no person(young) should not work as a stoker or trimmer as per section 110. Medical inspection is mandatory as per section 111. It also empowers central government to make rules respecting the employment of young persons. As per section 113 of this act.
APPRENTICE ACT, 1961
is to regulate and control the training undergone by the apprentice in the course of business. As per the act an apprentice is ‘as a person who is undergoing apprenticeship training in a designated trade in pursuance of control of apprenticeship’ the act prohibits any person to go internship who is below 14 years of age. In this context, the government has identified 56 trade for the purpose of this act.
BIDI AND CIGAR WORKS (condition of employment) ACT, 1966
also defines a child as a person who has not completed 14 years of age. Section 24 of this act ensures the enforcement of better work conditions for children connected with the manufacturing of cigar and bidi. In this act the children between 14 and 18 years are prohibited to work between 7 pm and 6 am as per section 25 of the act. Section 14 of the act also provided for maintenance of crèches and other facilities for children under the age of six years of female employees. Canteen, first aid, cleaning and ventilation are also incorporated in this act.
MOTOR TRANSPORT WORKERS ACT, 1961
prohibits the children under 15 years of age in any motor transport undertakings. In case of adolescent it also provides for certificate of fitness as per section 23 of this act and it also empowers inspectors to take medical examinations of employed adolescent as per section 24 of this act.
Legislative measures have been also taken to ensure the payment of minimum wages to labor. There are two central laws which impose certain obligations on employers and management in the field of wages. Payment of wages act, 1936 ensures regular and prompt payment of wages to employees and prevents exploitation of wage earner against arbitrary deductions and fines.
The minimum wages act 1948 imposes certain obligations on employers and managers in the field of wages and requires the central and state government to fix a certain minimum amount of wage in certain scheduled employments. The act also seeks to prevent ‘sweated labor’ to prevent the exploitation of employees and secure them in the enjoyment of minimum wages. This act ensures justice to those child labor who are not paid properly under coercive conditions
BONDED LABOR SYSTEM (ABOLITION) ACT, 1976
provides the abolition of bonded labor system with a view to preventing the economic and the physical exploitation of the weaker section of the society. As amended by the bonded labor system act (73 of 1985) section 4 of the act declares abolition of bonded labor system and lays down that the system shall stand abolished and every bonded labor shall on such commencement stand freed and discharged from any obligation to render any bonded labor. Enforcement of bonded labor also made punishable under section 16 with imprisonment for a term which may extend 3 years with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees.
Section 371 of IPC provides against habitual dealing of slaves in case of imports, exports, buys, sells should be punished with life imprisonment or with imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding ten years and should also be liable for fine.
INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANISATION AND CHILD LABOR
ILO (INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANISATION) COMBATING CHILD LABOR
The International labor organization was set up in 1919 under the League of Nations and has been playing an important role in combating child labor. Mainly it has been focusing on five main issues like prohibition of child labor, protecting child labor at work, attacking the basic causes of child labor, helping children to adapt to future work, protecting the children of working parents .
The general conference of ILO as WORST FORM OF CHILD LABOR CONVENTION, 1999 considers the need to adopt various instruments so as to combat child labor, Effective elimination of the children working in such conditions and provide for their social rehabilitation, deciding upon some certain proposals with regard to child labor. In article1 it is stated that each member should take immediate effective measures to secure the elimination of child labor. The child shall apply to all persons who is under the age of 18 years (article 2). All forms or similar to slavery, trafficking of children, debt bondage, prostitution of a child, pornographic activities, trafficking of drugs etc. are termed as the worst forms of child labor as per article3. The members should establish and design measures to monitor the implementation of the existed provisions, the action, measures should be in consultation with proper government institutions to make it more relevant and finally the formal ratifications of the conventions should be communicated to director-general of international labor office.
After the widely ratified convention against the worst form of child labor, the ILO has been well equipped to multiple challenges involved by trafficking process. It takes on Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labor (SAP-FL) and International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC). At that time the main concern of public was the then trafficking of the young female child from Albania, Moldova and Ukraine. The coercion by the traffickers on the female children was really very repulsive, even today also in every parts of the world a stringent investigation can bring into light thousand of these cases regarding child trafficking. One of the benchmark is the forced labor convention no.29 of 1930, this provides a clear definition. Under the convention a forced labor is that ‘all work or services exacted from any person under the menace of penalty and for which the said person has not offered voluntarily’ child labor forms a very major part in violating the human rights. Now a days it is surging rapidly. Even children are trafficked across borders to perform some other kind of work also. There are four major action steps taken by ILO like data collection and analysis, policy development and direct support including educational opportunities, community mobilization and outreach. Community mobilization is very important for proper monitoring the problems, it means community level governance for example in Philippines there are barangays are effective community mobilization only for children. This helps in clear positioning and implementation of plans to combat the problems.
The international labor organizations adopted the minimum age recommendation act, 1973 and have discussed certain elements about the topic. It gives priorities to planning and meeting the needs for children through all the national development policies regarding employment oriented programmes, ensuring better living standards, child allowances, proper educational opportunities. It also speaks about the minimum age that should be fixed in all kind of economic activities. The members should take as their objective to raise the age standard to 16 as per article 2 of the act. The conditions of employments should be measured whether they are satisfied or not. They should keep a watch whether the children are being undergoing through practical training session to keep a very safe and protective environment.
India is a signatory to the Universal declaration of human rights (UDHR), 1948. This is a common standard for all people and nation which comprises of human rights and fundamental freedom. It defines about the right of the human being to born free, equal dignity and rights and the spirit of brotherhood should also be present as per article 1. It speaks about the right to life, liberty, security of a person. Exposure to slavery and servitude shall be strongly prohibited. It is not acceptable for arbitrary detention and exile of any person. One is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal according to article 10 of the act. Everyone has the right to protection against any interference against his/her privacy, family or home. He/she has the full right to leave his/her own country and can return also according to the will. Everyone has the right to nationality and no one should be intentionally deprived of the nationality as per article 15 of the act. Everyone has the right to his own property and no one can be deprived of his property as per article 17 of the act. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. They have the right to peaceful assembly and association and there should not be any compulsion to belong to an association. There is the right to social security for the members for the same. Including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay, everyone has the right to rest and leisure as per article 24 of the act. With the adoption of the act, the human rights have been intensely implied for the betterment of all the human beings, specially the children who suffer the most.
The general assembly of the United Nations adopted the united nation declaration, 1959 on the rights of child where it mainly discussed about the physical and mental immaturity of a child needs special safeguard and cares before as well as birth so that the child can have a happy childhood enjoy for his good and for the society. In the principle1 it is said about the right to enjoyment of rights without any discrimination. It ensures a child’s right to special protection so that they can develop morally, mentally and physically. The child has the right to adequate nutrition and on the other hand he/she has the right to receive the early childhood care for survival, growth and development. The children who are physically disabled should be offered proper treatment and provided with proper educational opportunities. Free education is compulsory for every child, they must be provided with free primary education. There should not be any discrimination for children on the basis of race, caste. Status. Economy. There should be understanding, tolerance and brotherhood between them.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS
POLICIES FOR CHILDREN
The government of India has also adopted the National policy for children in 1971. It sets out the measures the proposals made by the government of India, to adopt the attainment of objectives that was set out earlier. It also includes actions that are designed to protect children from neglect, cruelty and exploitation. It mainly gives high priority towards the maintenance, well being, and education for the destitute children. It also stresses upon the vital role of the voluntary organizations that plays a vital role in imparting proper education, health services and social welfare to such children. The government should encourage these organizations that can help in the betterment of children. There are no. of programmes for the same. For example children from weaker section of society need special care, attention. Postulation for children who are deprived of the educational opportunities. Programme no. 7 directs the quality of opportunity. That it should be provided to children of all sections of the society including scheduled caste and scheduled tribes. Children with physical disabilities should be taken proper care with proper treatment, education and rehabilitation. Thus we can see that this policy is very effective and the international principles for the development of children are of utmost importance.
The National child labor policy, 1987
envisages strict-enforcement of the child labor (prohibition and regulation) act, 1986 for betterment of the condition of the child labor. It believes it in contemplating legal actions plans, general welfare and development plans on child labor and project based plan of action. Ten projects were taken to cover the sivakasi match industry, surat polishing industry, precious stone polishing industry of jaipur, Firozabad glass industry, brassware industry of Moradabad, carpet industry of bhadohi, lock making industry of Aligarh, carpet industry of Jammu and Kashmir slate industry in Madhya-Pradesh. Then the policy proposed that around 30000 children should be withdrawn and should be taken care by the government. The policy also increases this type of enforcing to create socio-economic situations which could diminish incidents regarding children being sent out to work.
The Convention of the right of the child (CRC), 1989
was unanimously adopted by the general assembly of the United Nation. The government of India ratified the convention. The CRC deals with the individual rights of the children less than 18 years of age to develop with full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect, exploitation and other abuses. It extends its provision to protect the child’s economic, social and cultural rights. The age of the child is specified (less than 18 years of age). The convention speaks about the parental guidance where the parents or the legal guardians have to provide the children in manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child and guidance in the exercise rights of the child recognized in the conventions. The child should be registered immediately after birth and it has the right to nationality as per the convention. By this convention a child shall not be separated from its parents against their will and state parties should respect the right of the child who is separated from their parents to maintain personal relations and direct contact with both the parents on a regular basis except it is contrary to the child’s best interest. The child should be given the right to express their views, they have the right to share their own judgment accordingly and they should be given the weight age according to their level of maturity. The child has the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly. Other than that there are articles where it has been discussed that the children should be protected from sexual abuse and economic exploitation, the child has the right to standard of living, social security and right to education.
The government of India has adopted the National Charter For Children, 2003 to reiterate its commitment towards eradicating the evils of child labor and exploitation. The intention of the charter is to secure the children the inherent rights and to ensure the healthy growth and development of a child which includes survival, life and liberty, promoting high standards of health and nutrition (the government should take a notice about the implementation of the health facilities and state should take the measures to implement proper health care and should aware preventively about diseases), assuring basic needs and supply( the government is there to ensure proper security for supply and needs for example- the authority should take the steps in supplying the basic materialistic needs by a street child), play and leisure, equality, freedom of expression, freedom to be in association, peaceful assembly and proper care for the children with disabilities.
The National Plan of Action for Children, 2005
makes out 12 key areas which should be grabbing greatest attentions. They are reducing infant mortality rate, reducing maternal mortality rate, reducing malnutrition among children, achieving cent percent civil registrations of the new born, complete abolition of female feticide and child marriage, all legal and social protection for children and monitoring, reform and review of the proposed and the implemented plans for the abolition of the problem.
The Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS). 1975
plays a unique role in the betterment of the life of children, they provide various programmes for the children. It was developed to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years, to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child, it aims at reducing incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout, achieving effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development and to ensure about the proper health and nutritional needs of the children. They arrange various programmes like
Nutrition including supplementary nutrition: in this nutrition they generally monitor the growth and surveil the nutrition. The child in each family communities are weighted often with their age and they have with them the cards (measuring weights with age) , therefore it is easy for them to asses the nutritional status. They visit every family and there is a provision within themselves for feed supporting to families.
Immunization: it includes proper immunizations to the pregnant women, infants for various diseases that can affect them like tuberculosis, tetanus, hepatitis etc. thus this section of the policy is for prevention and precautionary measures for the diseases
Health checkups: proper and regular health check-ups are conducted for the betterment of the health of a child. They are transferred to their sub centers for the better governance on the concerned arrangements.
Non formal pre-school education- they arrange a village courtyard for the children. In these arrangement normally joyful activities takes place resulting in the pre-school development of a child. Generally it is a preparation towards the school and these mainly aim at the optimal development of a child.
They also arrange funds for the state (100 % in nutrition). Actually they are resource sponsored and they provide funds to the state. When the states are out of fund then they finance the state, further there are many conditions for their funding process.
THE ELEVENTH FIVE YEAR PLAN:
The 11th five year plan aims at better investment in the educational sector. It is proposed to allocate 1.25 lakh crore for education which is a major leap from 30000 crore of the last plan. It is expected for the plan to cover a its previous achievements and to ensure inclusive growth curbing the negative sections. But merely plans won’t fetch the absolute motive; it has to be perfectly implemented through all out the proposed sectors. Previously it was claimed to have spent through various ways for the development at elementary levels but there was no positive results for the same. The increment of fund is not the only step that has to be done; all the proposed plans fail only when there is lack of plan of allocation of resource like unless a previous defective structure is not refined then it is useless to invest for the establishment of a new unit. The children here are given training, nutrition and regular health check up. In this plan there is a condition for amendment of the child labor act 1986, that there should not be the use of world ‘regulation’ because in this case the child labor negotiation should be non-negotiable, the provisions must be increased and should be stricter. The child labor should not be tolerated any more. New child labor eradication policy should be revised, the child labor has to be abolished in all forms and children enjoying the right to education are non-negotiable. In case of national child labor programme, it also should be revamped in case of migrated students. The intra state migrated students should be provided with additional transitional educational centers (TEC). This should be the joint effort of the state. The 11th five year plan comes up with the topic of social mobilization where the children can be prevented from all the work force. The children should go to government formal schools rather than leaving the home for full day work. For the children to leave work , so that they can get the free elementary education , the prime need is the connection between all the departments like labor ,police ,education ,youth affairs, panchayti raj.. the synchronization between all those will actually bring the synergy to achieve the real motive.
JUDICIAL ACTIONS
The role of Indian judiciary and judicial interpretation has been very remarkable now a days because of the increasing statutory invention in the present scenario and the judiciary is very much successful in giving the justice to the needy.
The Supreme Court is the apex court and has been assigned a very important role, and constituted as a guardian of the constitution which is the yardstick of the ground norms of the legislation . It is the duty of the judiciary for the establishment of proposals through which the society or the nation can move forward very effectively. It is a matter of pride that the Indian judiciary system has been able to inaugurate the trust of the common people that is the reason why the people bring their grievances to the court. In case of child labor relating issues or issues affecting many child right infringements, relating to child exploitation etc. the courts have many cases which actually go side by side with the constitution and makes the respective law effective.
The child must be groomed well in the formative years of his life. He must receive education, acquire knowledge of man and materials and blossom in such an atmosphere that on reaching age, he is found to be a man with a mission, a man who matters so for as the society is concerned. In this case, the framers were aware about the prohibition of the child in national building work unless he/she receives the primary education and then there was the insertion of the article (article45) where it is ensured to provide the free education to the children. They should also be provided with proper care and should be financially helped like they should get the minimum wages.
There was another case regarding the employment of children in carpet industry in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The appellant proposed for the proper investigation of the fact. After observation the apex court interpreted that the child of today cannot develop today unless the assurance of physical and mental health. The court held that the every child irrespective of caste, age, birth, colour should have the right to health, well being and education.
In another case there was same observation where the children were subjected to right to health, meaningful right to life with fundamental rights .
This is the reference of another case where apex court receives a letter regarding the workers who were mainly related with the manufacture of beedi and cigar, the children were not given proper wage, shelter and protection which generally leads to child resource exploitation. When the court ordered the society to provide a report of the activities, then it was found that there were many defects in the report. later it was observed that the manufacture of this kind of things leads to hazardous effect on the concerned. The court has adjourned the case for around 8 weeks because of the ineffective implementation of the law and later designing measures to combat this problem was taken by the state, central and the counsel for the employers
There was a case in chattisgarh where a girl child was seen in manufacturing a beedi in her house. This case was taken to court and under the child labor prohibition act it is an offence for sure but it was yet to prove that the age of that girl was less than 14 years. There was no medical or valid argument to present that girl with in 14 years of age. Other than that, beedi manufacturing has two parts. One is to roll the bidi and other case is to supply the raw materials in case of the latter one, the raw material provider enroll themselves legally and there ia no offence in it but in this case as it was not proved that the girl was not below 14 years of age, that’s why the proceedings were quashed.
The same as the above case was also there in the state of U.P where a child was seen in the carpet industry working when the inspection was made by the enforcement officer but again the age proof of the child was not produced by the authority as a result the conviction was unsustainable.
Now we will discuss about a case in Madhya Pradesh where a petitioner is challenging when a fine of RS.20000 was imposed on him for child labor of 14 years of age. Generally prohibition of employment of children in factories says that a single child shall not work with an age less than 14 years of age and as the petitioner was employing a child who is 14 years of age is an offence indeed. So the challenge was not even taken into consideration.
In this case a child below the certified age was employed and was investigated by an officer whose appointment was visualized by section 17 of the child labor prohibition act, 1986 and anything which is contravening the child labor prohibition act, leads to the imposition of penalty of RS 20000 ( twenty thousand) which could be deposited in a fund of child labor
Very recently a petition was filed by the NGO ‘Bachpan bachao andolan’ regarding the prohibition of the children working in circus as mere labours. The supreme court issued a notification prohibiting all the children from working in circuses. It was under article 21 about the fundamental rights of these children.
The Indian government has banned the employment of children under age 14 as domestic servants or in hotels, restaurants or small tea shops in a bid to protect the rights of the children. It also prohibits the children from working in any motels, bars or any other recreational activities
Earlier in case of child labor, the sufferers don’t have that access to the court to express their grievances but now a child labor can easily reach the court and demand for his fundamental rights. This is only because of the locus standi of the court.
In a certain case, it is seen that the supreme court that the employment act of India does not feature the construction work because this is a type of hazardous work and under article 24 one under the age of 14 years is prohibited to act in such activities
SARBHA SIKHSA ABHIYAN
The scheme was adopted by the government of India to provide free education to all under 6 and 14 years of age. This is tagged with the state government to exercise the scheme of elementary education effectively towards every parts of India. Recently the scheme aims at opening new schools in primitive remote places. Not only opening schools they also develop the infrastructure, proper fooding facilities, drinking water, sanitation etc. they are now recently working on to introduce the computer education in the course to increase the quality of education to a very contemporary level.
MID DAY MEAL SCHEME
The concept of mid-day meal originated from a saying of a boy when he said that he will only go to school if he will be provided with food the initiative was taken by the state of Karnataka and later it was stated by the Supreme Court of India that it is a direction to all of the state government to ensure the mid day meals in all types of primary schools in India. Thus it helps to encourage the elementary primary education.
CONCLUSION
HALF HEARTED MEASURES: LACK OF IMPLEMENTATION AND REMEDIES:
After discussing about the measures and actions taken in form of administration, legislation and judicial we can easily interpret that India has really been successful in designing the laws, but that laws are only laws when they are properly implementation. Its like having all the plans without organizing and hard work which thereafter plays an important role in the happening of things. The stark reality is that, if we look India, then we could see that the problem of child labor has no where decreased and still prevalent in the nation affecting the future generation badly. Children are now also found in roadsides, coal mines, industries subjected to exploitation mentally, physically and psychologically. According to one estimate, more than 20 per cent of India’s economy is dependent on children, the equivalent of 55 million youngsters under 14 . Some recent current issues are discussed below
1. Child workers, some as young as 10, have been found working in a textile factory in conditions close to slavery to produce clothes that appear destined for Gap Kids, one of the most successful arms of the high street giant. Speaking to The Observer, the children described long hours of unwaged work, as well as threats and beatings. The discovery of the children working in filthy conditions in the Shahpur Jat area of Delhi has renewed concerns about the outsourcing by large retail chains of their garment production to India, recognized by the United Nations as the world’s capital for child labor .
2. A City-based Child line, a 24-hour helpline for children in distress, rescued 116 children from serious abuse and provided shelter to 46 in 2011. The number of cases of child trafficking, abuse, child labor and beggary increased during 2011 in comparison to 2010, said a report released by the same helpline, which completed 11 years of operation on Monday .
3. In Goa there are around 100 child labors, a prevalence of tourism related sexual abuse and child trafficking. In Goa there is children act 2003 states that the children have to be given free education up to 7 years of age. But up till now there is no such action to do so. There was even a plan of action taken to eradicate child labor in Goa but no survey has been taken already .
4. Another case was there where a boy named ranjith with other 9 children was trafficked to Kerala from west Bengal. They worked in a gold shop at thrissur. They worked constantly for around 16 hectic hours and in that case they were given very low amount of food and money as their reward. They were beaten also in case of any disorder .
5. This is a case about child trafficking. A 17 year girl named as Rani was married to a 40 years old man for rs.10000. After his parents have died, she was got married. One day she went to the police station to complain about her property dispute, she was sexually abused by the police officer. Gradually, she was introduced to many people after when she was trafficked to many places. In this case rani was at the same time sexually abused and trafficked .
6. This is the case of sanu chaudhari when she was brought to India by a co-worker in a carpet industry. Sanu had a friend who tells her about the better payment facilities in raxaul and they settled to go there. But instead of raxaul sanu was actually trafficked in Mumbai, and she was sexually abused by many people, beaten by brothel guards and finally she took up as her profession.
As the above cases described, there are many cases like this which can actually make a clear picture of the fact that after designing so much measures and the measures remain restricted only in paper, not in reality. The judiciary, administrative and the legislation should scan the problem in a broader view, create and amend some existing laws. Here are some points which I think that should be taken into consideration.
ECONOMICAL PROBLEM:
First and fore most child labor arises out of mainly one reason that is poverty. We cannot always blame the laws for not having its effect on common people, there are some embedded problems also. For example in primitive villages where the law surely applies but the monthly income is of really negligible amount , then the child of the family below 14 years of age is sent for work to earn the bread for the family or they migrate to another place for any work. Then the children are seen as the financial provider of the family .This includes no offence in that case in case of morality. It is the responsibility of the government to maintain the economical equality between the peoples in India , the biggest problem to be achieved in the current scenario. A family with a very low income rate do not pay any respect towards the laws that prevails but according to them financial assistance is of more importance. Now if that particular family gets the assistance, then they would have hardly sent their children to earn livelihood. So as long there is poverty and destitution in this country, it is really hard to eradicate the evil. In a case the supreme court opined that the problem of the child labor is a very difficult problem and it is a purely economic problem that parents often want their children to be employed to make both ends meet . So onwards there should be some steps by the judiciary or the legislation regarding assisting financially to lessen child labor.
MASS ILLITERACY:
Generally in places where there is mass illiteracy in the community, various social evils are prevalent in that particular section of the society. In the 20th century also, many community think that a girl child is there only for doing household duties and there is nowhere access to education in their families .For these people the constitutional mandates are of no. importance. These categories of people are generally reluctant to send their children to schools and colleges. They send their children for work without knowing anything about the child labor problem and the corrupt employers mostly want these type of workers by whom they can easily make the work done. But this type of continuous practice cannot help in restraining the problem. The government should bear the responsibility to educate the people about the problems, consequences of child labor, about how it hinders the growth of the society, the exploitation of human resource and most importantly that is a punishable offence under law. It should be imparted that education is not only for restriction of child labor but it is also needed to earn money that is the prime factor they look at.
EDUCATIONAL AMMENDMENTS:
It is there that a child has the right to free elementary education between 6-14 years of their age. According to the reports of the Report On National Commission of Labor, the proposed 83rd amendment bill will guarantee the right to education children in time age 6-14 group. Only those who can afford to nurture their young children and provide them pre-school opportunities, will be able to take advantage of the right. The age group of 3+ must be included to ensure that children of disadvantaged groups have equality of opportunity in the school system
Another aspect is there that there are number of schools and plans of actions prepared , but their proper implementation is also important. According to the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (UNEPA), about 47 lakhs elementary school teachers have not studied beyond higher secondary examination. The government should keep training session for that teacher to ensure quality educational to the students. At the elementary level, the student have to be nurtured very properly, have to be equipped with analytical, conceptual skills because this is the base of education that he is receiving . in many cases it happens that for the sake of law , a school is set up. They don’t have proper infra, system and discipline. The teacher remains absent most of the days. In remote areas there is very low accountability rather no accountability in their systems resulting in very poor performance of the teachers. There should be some amendments or some serious measures to curb these problems.
BETTER INCOME OPPORTUNITIES
In India unemployment rate is not too high, that it should be ignored. Many of the cases where the peoples are indulging in some unsocial activities, the main reason behind it is the unemployment. In case of child labor as we have discussed above is mainly because of the economical problem that they face. Sometimes due to many realistic reasons and environment prevailing, parents have to send their children for work because he/she is the prime income holder of the family, at this point of time there should be a number of choices. It is therefore the responsibility of the state to provide income alternatives other than health, education, nutrition to the children, because in many families there is the immediate need of money, they cannot just keep their children in schools being the children, the main earner of the society. At this moment alternative income opportunities are needed. The state shall provide incentive along with education. In this case the students receiving incentive can help his family and on the other hand they can also share education both at a time.
ENFORCING THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PARENTS
The free elementary education is a constitutional right where it was stated that the state shall provide free education for the children aged between six and fourteen years of age. But this can only be successful in case the parents send them to school instead of sending them at work places. In many cases it happens that, though free education is imparted, still some children do not take part because of not having the consensus of their parents and they go for work under the compulsion of their parents. In this case there should be enforcement on the part of parents in which, the parents will be obliged to send their children to the school otherwise that will be a punishable offence. It will work best for the step mothers/fathers who generally do not send their children to the school and after this the problem will be solved because in this case the parents are in the binding force to send their children to schools . Article 51-A clause k deals with the topic but after the failure of the general persuasion of the clause, it is admitted to move to some stricter provisions. In a case there was opined that children are not mere chattels, they are not the play things of their parents, absolute right of the parents over the destinies and the life of the children has in modern, changed social conditions
PROPER ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOVERNANCE
A plan cannot be implemented without proper implementation. All the child labor laws, policies have been determined but not at all implemented properly. This needs proper governance and accountability of the authority. In many cases when it needs the proper investigation about the facts, then the potential to do that really lacks. Sometimes the police inspectors don’t feel themselves responsible for the job given to them. They don’t take the initiative to save the society. There is no one to fill the loop holes prevailing in the system. So the state has to take certain decisions to curtail the problems. The strictness of the law should be increased otherwise the flaws cannot be highlighted and rectified which will result in the ineffective implementation because of violation of laws. One of the effects of this improper governance is the rise of corruption. Illegal employment has been a mode of huge earning in India. The employers generally grab the most portion of amount generated by the child labor. The money generated by child labor is unaccounted and goes to the pockets of the employers. This black money id used again to bribe resourceful peoples all through. But in response only 9 percent of the total employers were arrested. Inspite of their 3 or 4 years of jail, they only got through the case by paying a mere amount for fine. Until now not even a single errant employer has been jailed for . The child labor generates 1,20.000 crores of black money every year.
May be it’s the most pathetic reason why the children have their exposure towards labor. Children whose parents have died and after that it is the immediate necessity of the children to earn something and unfortunately for that reason the child has to join the work. In this case the state should promote the case of adoption. With the help of adoption the child can have again someone who will guide the boy. In eradication of child labor, promotion of adoption is also very important.
According to the report of national commission of labor. A proper fund policy plan should be prevalent. With this facility, the state can use regarding child developments considerations. The best known example comes from Columbia. The government takes 3percent from private and public companies. The fund is then maintained by Columbia institute of child welfare.
On a gross, it can be observed that India has the dubious distinction of having the greatest number of child labor. They are being used by the employers that results in the proliferating amount of miserable and difficult lives for the children. Today the child labor has been nonexistent in the developed countries . But unfortunately in India it is still prevalent because of the poverty forces. The poor income of most of the families in India is the root cause for the problem. There are many voluntary organizations and NGOs who dedicate their duties to eradicate the evil are getting enough support from the government. Very often the open rallies are being arranged by them to infuse the sense of understanding of the problem to the minds of the common peoples. Other than that as discussed earlier there are many actions from the part of state, constitution to fight this problem , then also something is missing very badly and that is proper synchronization between all the measures. If the proper communication and semblance between all the measures can be ensured then the problem will not be as intense as of now. Another major factor that should be kept in mind after the synchronization , is to lower the level of ignorance and increase the mentality of the society. Former can be achieved by proper information allocation in the society and later can be achieved only with the help of the consciousness of the common people. If the community itself do not changes , then it is impossible to implement any ideas and plans because they are main characters dealing with the problem. Therefore the society plays a very important role in this process. We should take the initiative with mass work force and will without passing away the blame on to the others. If we are successful in doing this , then only we can get the solution of the problem.
