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Identify the socio-economic and cultural factors that have led to the existence and persistence of child labour in India. Discuss some of the recent initiatives of the government to address the issue.

Identify the socio-economic and cultural factors that have led to the existence and persistence of child labour in India. Discuss some of the recent initiatives of the government to address the issue.

by

Indian Economic Service 

Indian Statistical Service Examination, 2023

Identify the socio-economic and cultural factors that have led to the existence and persistence of child labour in India. Discuss some of the recent initiatives of the government to address the issue.

There is no doubt that child labor in India is a complex problem. It has persisted for decades, yet the Indian government has instituted a number of measures to combat this problem. Our discussion will explore the reasons behind the persisting problem as well as these initiatives that have been initiated recently.

Socio-economic Factors:

Poverty:

There are a number of reasons for child labor in India, but one of the most significant is poverty. Families living in extreme poverty are often forced to rely on every source of income available to them, including child labor, to make ends meet. This leads to a vicious cycle of children being forced to work to supplement the income of the family.

Lack of Education:

In Indian communities, there are a significant number of children who do not have access to quality education. This lack of educational opportunities, coupled with the need for Indian children to earn a living for their families, results in children choosing to leave school for work instead of attending school.

Inadequate Social Safety Nets:

There have been instances where India’s social safety net programs have not been sufficient in providing financial assistance to impoverished families, resulting in parents having to send their children to work to meet basic needs.

Rural-Urban Migration:

There is a growing trend among rural populations moving into urban centers in search of work, which often leads to the subjugation of children working in informal sectors such as construction and agriculture, which are prevalent in informal communities, due to a lack of opportunities.

Cultural Factors:

Norms and Tradition:

There are communities and cultures where child labor is seen as a tradition, where children are expected to follow their parents’ footsteps and to work for their parents’ companies from a young age, following in their parents’ footsteps and taking on the family professions.

Social Acceptance:

There are some sectors of society where child labor continues to be socially acceptable as a way to impart skills and discipline to children. Because of this belief, child labor has been allowed to persist in those sectors.

Gender Norms:

Due to traditional gender norms that limit a girl’s opportunities and expose her to exploitation, gender plays an important role in child labor. Girls are particularly vulnerable to child labor as a result of their gender.

Recent Government Initiatives:

The Right to Education Act (2009):

With the passage of this landmark legislation, all children aged 6 to 14 will be entitled to free and compulsory education. This legislation aims to address the educational aspect of child labor by ensuring that these children will have access to quality education.

National Child Labour Project (NCLP):

In order to identify and provide rehabilitative services to child laborers, the government has implemented the NCLP – a program which provides non-formal education, vocational training, and nutrition support for rescued child laborers in various districts.

Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act (2016):

With the passage of this amendment, the legal framework against child labor has been strengthened. The age of prohibition has been raised to 18 years from 14 and hazardous occupations and processes have been added to the list of prohibited activities.

MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act):

The purpose of this program is to provide employment opportunities to rural households, which can help reduce the economic compulsion for child labor in rural areas and reduce the use of child labor.

PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour):

In order to improve coordination between the different government departments and NGOs working on child labor issues, the PENCIL portal was launched as a tool to facilitate the monitoring and enforcement of child labor laws.

National Plan of Action for Children (2016):

There is a plan outlined in this document as a mechanism for combating child labor, which focuses on the convergence of services, the development of awareness campaigns, and the strengthening of enforcement of child labor laws.

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao:

In spite of the fact that this campaign is mainly aimed at gender bias and women’s education, by promoting girls’ education and empowerment this campaign indirectly contributes to reducing child labor.

In conclusion, child labor in India persists due to a combination of socio-economic and cultural factors. However, the government has been taking significant steps to combat this issue through legislative changes and targeted programs to ensure that children have access to education and a chance for a better future.

Smirti
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