Child Labour

Abstract

“In the cow boy culture of ancient civilization child labour was there but, it was not considered as a problem. Children including our Lord Krishna used to graze cattle. The system of education was such as could go on side by side.There was no exploitation.”

The cotation is given by G.S Pandey, Former Reader in law Lucknow University at the conference on “Child labour, Child Delinquency and Child Education”, dt. 15-16 Jan, 1994 organized by law faculty, Lucknow University. Then we must include, “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”, under Article 24 of the constitution of India. In this regard Supreme Court has directed that children should not be employed in hazardous jobs in factories and positive steps should be taken for the welfare of such children as well as for improving the quality of their life and the employers ofchildren below 14 years must comply with the prouirions of the child labour (prohibition and Regulation) Act providing for compensation, employment of their parents or guardians and their education, under M.C. Mehta V. State of Tamil Nadu, (1991) 1SCC 183 and Bandhua Mukti Morcha V. Union of India, (1997) 10sec 549: AIR SC 2218.

Here it is very much clear that Constitution of India guaranted the child rights against the employment of children in factory, mines or engagement in any other hazardous employment. Not only this, there are other constitutional provision and many legislations to protect the interest of children. As childlabour is a vital issue for any developing countries like India or under developed countries or any developed countries. It is because almost one third of the world’s population comprises of children. Children are important of the social structure and the potential future carries of the culture unfortunately, the problem of child labour is existing in our country. Children’s are the gift of ‘God’.Nature has given childhood, as a gift to human being. It is believed that childhood is an evidence of the faith of God in human being. So, the childhood of any child should not destroyed. “Dignity of labour is honour in hour of work culture” said by Mahatma Gandhi.

He also feel that if, child labour are yeintly used then if is a greatest man made disaster on the earth and having long term adverse effect on humanhind. A child is not only a man of tomorrow, but also a future of a nation. Healthy child is the base of the healthy human society. In a weak base, we cannot construct a multistoried building, so for a bright future of our society we have to give a protection and useful facilities to improve the inner ability of a children.

Keywords: Child Labour

JEL Classification: K13