Although the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines a child as anyone below the age of 18, in India most acts against child labour are focussed on children up to the age of 14. India is a signatory to the charter.
Although the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines a child as anyone below the age of 18, in India most acts against child labour are focussed on children up to the age of 14. India is a signatory to the charter.
However, those working with children in the state believe that the age post-14 is just as crucial as the age prior to that. “A 14-year-old is still very young - still a teenager and trying to grapple with what life throws at them. The highest number of dropouts is after the 7th standard and as long as children are not in school, they are in a vulnerable situation, where they could either be forced into child labour, into marriage or in some cases, get involved in criminal activities,” said Praveen Shivshankar, associate general manager, Child Rights and You (CRY).
June 12 is observed as the World Day Against Child Labour.
CRY, while welcoming the government’s decision to ban any kind of labour for children under the age of 14, also demanded that the age be raised to 18 years, after which in all legality a child is considered an adult.
While amendments to the existing anti child labour acts are necessary, the fact remains that even today, children under the age of 14 are involved in hazardous work. Karnataka ranks 7th in the country when it comes to child labour. Gulbarga has the highest number of child labourers in the state. In Bangalore, there are an estimated 2 lakh child labourers, according to estimates by child rights groups.
According to Shivshankar, while the government’s efforts are laudable, a lot more needs to be done. “It is a fact that child labour continues to be a serious issue in our state. But if we are to address this, the first thing to do is eliminate the root cause of child labour - poverty, and the fact that there are no schools near enough for most children. With the Right to Education (RTE) and free and compulsory education being made mandatory, we may have begun addressing the issue of education being a little more accessible. However, unless there are more schools near to children’s homes, child labour will continue to be a major issue,” he argued.
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