The document discusses the problem of child labor in India. It notes that India has the largest number of child laborers in the world, with over 12.6 million children aged 5-14 working. Child labor occurs predominantly in rural areas and unorganized sectors, with children exposed to numerous health and safety hazards. Addressing poverty is seen as a key way to help reduce the need for child labor in India. Concerted efforts are needed from all parts of society to eliminate child labor.

1. GOOD MORNING

2. “ If we are to reach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children” - MAHATMA GANDHI

3. INTRODUCTION- Children are considered as an asset of society and children are the one who take the nation forward in a due course. But unfortunately social problems such as unemployment, poverty, ignorance and illiteracy of parents force them to work.

4. PROBLEMS OF CHILD LABOUR - WHERE THE NATION IS HEADING TOWARDS? AKSHATHA PARANJYOTHI KUMAR DEPT. OF SOCIOLOGY GOVT. FIRST GRADE COLLEGE, RAJAJINAGAR

5. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF CHILD LABOUR Indeed the problem of child labour is very old and it has been there since time immemorial. In ancient India, in Medieval India and also in pre-capitalist societies, children less than 8 years of age belonging to Scheduled Castes and lower castes were employed for doing menial works. Industrialization and large scale urbanization has aggravated the problem of child labour.

6. WHO IS A CHILD LABOUR? There is no consensus with regard to the meaning of the term child labour. According to the Child Labour( Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, ‘child means a person who has not completed his 14th year of age. Any such person engaged for wages, whether in cash or in kind, is a child worker’.

7. CHILD LABOUR IN DIFFERENT SECTORS In India children are employed both in organized and unorganized sectors in rural and urban areas of which 90 percent is in rural areas. Children are engaged in activities like sowing, weeding, harvesting, tending of cattle, shoe-polishing, rag picking, beedi making, construction activities, hotels and restaurants work, helper at garages, households and so on.

12. HEALTH HAZARDS Source- Rural Labour Cell of Academy of Gandhian Studies, Hyderabad, 1988 SL. NO. OCCUPATION HEALTH HAZARDS 1. Beedi industry Chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis 2. Glass Industry Asthma, Bronchitis, T.B., Eye problem 3. Handloom Industry Asthma, T.B. 4. Zari and Embroidery Eye defects 5. Gem and Diamond cutting Eye defects 6. Construction Stunted growth of child 7. Rag picking Tetanus, skin diseases 8. Pottery Asthma, Bronchitis, T.B. 9. Stone quarries/ Slate quarries Silicosin

15. The chart shows that children who are engaged in hazardous activities are deprived of primary emotions such as joy, acceptance, surprise etc, and they experience more of secondary emotions like disgust, fear, anger and sadness at their work places.

23. The development of India as a nation is being hampered by child labour. The Government of India must ensure that the needs of the poor are satisfied. If poverty is addressed, the need for child labour will diminish. Concerted efforts are required from all section of the society to make a dent in the problem. There should be combined efforts of government, international agencies, non-governmental organizations and above all the citizens. Let us hope that child labour issue would be addressed genuinely and eradicated completely from our society in the coming years and near future.

24. WE ALL CAN HELP When the setting sun asked, Who shall do the rest? A little lamp offered I shall do my best. - RABINDRANATH TAGORE

27. WEBSITES: Census Of India Department of Labour- Government of Karnataka Helplinelaw.com indianembassy.org International Labour Office, Geneva- Website International Labour Organization OneWorld.net Unicef website

28. NEWS PAPER ARTICLES: The Hindu, Monday, December 06, 2004: Reported by Sahana Charan Prajavani, Sunday, June 11, 2006: Reported by C.T. Shantaraj The Hindu, Wednesday, May 23, 2007: Reported by Bageshree S. Prajavani, Sunday, June 10, 2007: Reported by Sacchidananda Kuragunda The Hindu, Wednesday, June 13, 2007 The Hindu, Thursday, June 14, 2007 The Hindu, Friday, June 15, 2007: Reported by Bageshree S. The Hindu, Friday, July 13, 2007 The Hindu, Monday, October 15, 2007 The Times of India, June 12, 2009