Abstract
Child Labour happens to be one of the most debilitating concerns affecting children around the world, more so in the developing countries, where resources are scarce. It denies children the necessary foundation of education, health and recreation, affecting their physical and mental well-being and potential to lead quality lives as adults. With child labour forming a staggering 13% of the total workforce as per the 2011 census, India has been one of the major victims of this issue. While in recent times, rural child labour has shown a downward trend, it is on the rise in urban areas. Further, in many cases, it remains invisible, as legal vigilance has shifted their focus of child labour from registered factories and establishments to unorganized sectors, such as small shops and eateries, unregistered small-scale industries, street vending, domestic labour and family trade. The Indian scenario has witnessed several policy and legal interventions to deal with the problem, including preventive legislations and making Right to Education for children aged between six and fourteen years a fundamental right. Despite these measures, child labour remains a reality, owing to an ecosystem of poverty, lack of education, inadequate enforcement of law and increasing pressure on resources due to a growing population. This chapter investigates the past and ongoing issues concerning child labour in India, theoretical positions of its dynamics, and the underlying socio-economic issues that helps child labour sustain. Based on the review and analysis, the chapter discusses the effect of various interventions and proposes need-based interventions and policy solutions.
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References
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Deb, S., Sunny, A.M., Majumdar, B. (2020). Slum Children: Innocent Victims of the Social Reality. In: Disadvantaged Children in India . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1318-3_3
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