Policies and Programmes on Child Labour in India

Abstract

In all societies irrespective of caste, race or area children occupied a very important position. A Child is the bud of future citizen of a country. Child labour is necessitated by economic compulsions of the parents and in many cases of the children. Widespread unemployment and underemployment among the adult poor are the main reason which has given rise to child labour. The major reason for hiring children viz., children’s are easier to manage because they are less aware of rights, less complaining, more trust worthy, less troublesome and no problems of unions. Employment of children of less than 14 years is strictly prohibited in India, still due to different reasons such as poverty, poor economic support to families, family disorganization, etc, it is still prevailed. The child labourers are facing many of the problems such as lower wages, longer working hours, ill health, poor psychological development, exploitation, sexual harassment, etc. So, the present study is based on secondary data which encompasses policies and programmes taken by the authorities to curb the child labour menace in India.