India has the highest number of labourers in the world under the age of 14 years. The constitution guarantees free and compulsory education to children between the ages of 6 and 14. Although the Constitution of India prohibits employment of children younger than 14 in any hazardous environment, child labour is present in almost all sectors of the Indian economy. Some of the sectors involved in child labour are beedi manufacture, fireworks manufacture, diamond industry, domestic labour, construction, etc.
Child labour is most predominant in the beedi manufacture sector. More than 30% of the total hired workers are children. The United States Customs Service had banned the import of Beedis made in Ganesh Beedi Works of Mangalore. In Surat, which is the hub of the diamond industry in India, 25% of the workforce comprises children. However, in the past few years there has been a significant decrease in the number of child workers especially in Gujarat. This has been possible due to the continuous efforts of many groups and an increase in the awareness among people connected to the diamond industry. The fireworks manufacture sector in some places like Sivakasi, employs children at wages as low as Rs. 20 per day. It is estimated that more than 3,000 children work in this industry. Unfortunately, many of them die in accidents. All across India, we get to see children working as domestic labour and as workers at dhabas, hotels, offices, etc. Children can also be found in the construction of both home and office buildings. In 1982, for the construction of the Asian Games Village, the contractors had employed child labour, for they had to be paid less, making it a giant issue. Another industry where child labour is highly active is silk manufacture. Human Rights Watch estimates that at least 3,50,000 bonded children are employed by the silk industry in India.
There have been many initiatives against child labour by the government and non governmental organizations. In 1979, the government formed the Gurupadswamy Committee to tackle child labour. The Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation act was enacted based on the recommendations of the committee in 1986. The act bans employment of children in occupations related to
? Transport of passengers ? Manufacture and selling of crackers and fireworks ? Carpet Weaving ? Manufacture of Beedi, cement, matches, explosives, soap, agate products, agarbatti, etc ? Building and construction industry ? Hazardous processes under the factory act
The violation of the act can result in punishment ranging from imprisonment from one month to two years. Many NGOs including Save the Children have been working to eradicate child labour in India. Save the Children is driven to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. For this, we have developed various schemes and policies for child protection. It is our mission to eliminate child labour completely from the society and facilitate the development of children enabling them to reach their full potential.
Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children that works to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.
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