Child Labour and Society
A concern of child labour exists from poverty. Do we have to understand why children go to work? If parents don’t send their children to work, I am sure factories will not be able to consume them. Why poor parents fee; children as their assets who will earn money for their home.
Are they forced by their parents to go to work? If yes, Why? Nearly 30% of the population in poor countries are the poorest of poor who are not even able to earn enough for one-day food with big family have to largely depend on children to earn and feed. Parents of these children are mainly illiterate or semi-literate are unable to find jobs, which can provide enough salary.
Dream of education to children is impossible unless suitable employment opportunities made available to at least one person in the family. Simply opening schools and providing books are not sufficient measures. We need to understand the reason behind child labour that is poverty and unemployment. Minimizing poverty and creation more and more suitable jobs for parents are the only solution to the eradication of the majority of the child labour problem.
Some percentage of child labour comes from brutality/ harassment by parents or stepparents. They are mainly from urban areas of the lower-middle-income group. This percentage is too less and easily controllable by penalties to such parents and children rights. But rural poverty and lack of employment or partial employment and illiteracy have given birth to the majority of the child labour problem. Our understanding should be a little more practical as no parents want their children to work at the age when children are to study and play.
The system of child labour prevails in countries, which are poor or underdeveloped. Nearly 70% of the worlds poor live in Asia alone and the major contribution made by China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Where 70% of populations live in rural areas have main employment in agriculture and small and cottage industries
The major percentage is illiterate or semi-literate. In India alone, around 45% of the total thick population of one billion is illiterate/ semi-literate who is not able to find jobs in modern industries. 36% of the total of India’s population is illiterates. Main traditional crafts manufacturing has almost collapsed due to lack of demand in international market has further aggravated unemployment crisis.
