What are the social and economic consequences of abolishing child labour in India?

'India' is facing the bane of child-labour. A large number of children have to work as child labourer in industries or other places of works like hotels, stalls and shops etc. Laws have been made to abolish child labour from India. Various schemes and programmes have been formulated to meet this end. But it is a far goat to be achieved yet. India will have to face some consequences in socio-economic fields, if the child labour is abolished. They poor families will not be able to meet requirements of life, if they have no work to do.

Starvation will be a result even to some families. Children will require enough nutrition apart from this. Activities for their upliftment will be a first priority. But the position does not appear that government will be able to provide food, clothes, shelter and education on its own if children do not earn. Adult members will have to replace the children. Children are always low paid, for such low payment an adult can not afford to work.

As far as economic aspect is concerned there are some protests from USA and European countries regarding child labour in India. Indian export will go up after abolishing it. On the other hand earning of families will be reduced income deficiency will result in poverty because children support their families. Along with it employer of children will not be able to employ an adult because of their inability to pay higher wages. Some children can afford their own food and education even with working, and then this burden has to be handled by their poor parents.

Economic conditions of Government is not so sound to afford all these costs. Higher cost of wages to small scale industries and small employers will resulted from it. So, it can be said that all these facts shows that it is not possible for India to abolish child labour in hear future.

Indian poverty has made it compulsory to employ children in payable work as self employment to meet the ends of the family. It is a curse upon the society that children in the age of 'study & play' have to work to earn money. Child labour is a blame upon the Indian democracy. However, a lot of steps have been taken in India to get rid of child labour. Child labour and exploitation have been abolished for the first time, due to the Article 24 and 39. India has signed with ILO also for the understanding regarding the abolition of child labour.

To get rid of child labour following steps must be taken:

• Social awareness regarding evil effects of the child labour upon the future of the society and that of the child and family itself.

• Welfare funds by the government can be established to take care of such children.

• Where possible and necessary, alternate employment should be provided to an adult from the family of the child so removed from the labour.

• Proper facilities of free education to such children should be done.

• They can e given vocational education so that at the age of earning, they should not have to search for a job which is tough to find.

• They should be provided free meal and scholarship apart from free books and literature of their study.

• Alternatives to the abolition of the child labour in the form of funds for their rehabilitation and compensation for the loss of income to the vulnerably poor families.

• Child labour policy should be re-examined to make it more effective.

• A commission should be set up in each district to monitor the implementation of related laws and to create awareness in the society.

• Implementation of legislation should be done properly.

• The employers violating the laws should be forced to deposit an amount in a fund which can be utilized to remove this curse from India.

• Stringent punishment should be given to the violating employers.

• Related bills and acts can be drafted or amended in such a way as to make them more operative rather than more oppressive.

• Important of all, social awareness is must to remove child labour, so education in such vulnerable localities can help to improve their conditions.

• Child labour in India
• Article: Child labour issue in India by CHILDLINE India Foundation

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