Wherein information about child labour is concerned, UNICEF estimates that over 150 million children between the age of 5 to 14 years, worldwide, are involved in child labour. According to the latest statistical reports from the International Labour Organization, 7.4 million children in the same age group are engaged in domestic work, which is excessively carried out by girls. The statistics of the information about child labour in the domestic sector in India is inexplicable; these statistics are maintained by the National Sample Survey Organisation and the Office of Registrar General of India through the ten-yearly census.
The 66th Round Report of the NSSO reported 4.9 million children in 5-14 age groups to be financially active in 2009- 10 and the Census of India 2011 stated that 4.3 million children are employed as child labourers. Despite legal provisions and legislation in India, prohibiting child labour under The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 and Juvenile Justice Act 2000 have had no far-fetching effects on the child labour situation.
The causes of domestic child labour in India are diverse; nonetheless, the direct relationship with poverty drives children to this structure of work. The other causes that play an active part in brewing this evil include
A) In a culture where gender discrimination is predominant, it is considered normal for a girl, to work as a domestic worker. It is considered her only way of accessing the labour market.
B) Lack of educational opportunities leads parents to force their children into domestic work to extend financial help by sharing the family expenses.
C) Poor families find it difficult to fulfil their basic requirements; therefore, due to meagre work opportunities in the rural setting, these families encourage their children to urban areas to take up domestic work.
D) Most often, lured by better future life and education prospects, children fall prey to trafficking and forced labour where they do not have any income to cover their fundamental requirements.
Children working as domestic labourers in private structures are ‘invisible’; their work is hidden because they are projected as ‘helpers’ instead of ‘workers’. Did you know that Save the Children promotes various governmental acts and amendments that prohibit the employment of children up to 14 years in all occupations and processes? They work towards enabling children through education and also help fight the evil of child labour through many programmes that they have strongly implemented in 19 states across India. Yes, you read it right! Would you support their effort to end domestic child labour in India?
For more information about child labour and the programmes and initiatives of Save the Children, visit www.savethechildren.in
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