Child labour

Child Labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their
childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially or morally
harmful.
Such exploitation is prohibited by legislation worldwide, although these laws do not consider all work by
children as child labour; exceptions include work by child artists, family duties, supervised training,

The 2011 national census of India found the total number of child labourers, aged 5–14, to be at 10.1 million,
and the total child population to be 259.64 million in that age group. The child labour problem is not unique to
India; worldwide, about 217 million children work, many full-time.

As per the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, amended in 2016 ("CLPR Act"), a "Child" is
defined as any person below the age of 15, and the CLPR Act prohibits employment of a Child in any
employment including as a domestic help. It is a cognizable criminal offence to employ a Child for any work.

In 1979, the Indian government formed the Gurupadswamy Committee to find about child labour and means
to tackle it. The Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act was enacted based on the recommendations of
the committee in 1986. A National Policy on Child Labour was formulated in 1987 to focus on rehabilitating
children working in hazardous occupations. The Ministry of Labour and Employment had implemented around
100 industry-specific National Child Labour Projects to rehabilitate the child workers since 1988.

Non-governmental organizations
Many NGOs like Bachpan Bachao Andolan, ChildFund, CARE India, Talaash Association, Child Rights and You,
Global march against child labour, RIDE India, Childline etc. have been working to eradicate child labour in
India.
Child labour has also been a subject of public interest litigations in Indian courts.
4. Case of Child labour:
Case 1: Ranjith, 14years.
The boy was a native of West Bengal and came from a very poor family. He along with 9 other children from
West Bengal were brought to Kerala for work. Ranjith was placed in a gold shop at Thrissur. Long hours of
work (16 hours), with very little food and physical abuse were a part of his life. Unable to take more of this ill
treatment he finally escaped from the place and came to Calicut.

Calicut Control Police referred 14-year-old Ranjith to Kozikode CHILDLINE on 11th April 2005. During the
course of interactions the child gave the number of the agent. A team meeting was organized following which
an Action Plan was formulated to rescue the other children. One of the lady
constables, posing as a schoolteacher, called the agent informing him that Ranjith was
with her. She asked the agent to come to Calicut bus stand at 5 P.M and informed that
she would hand over the boy to him at the discussed place and time. The next day a-
team consisting of Circle Inspector, Sub Inspector, the lady constable, and two police
constables along with the boy arrived at the bust stand in civil dress. However, the
agent did not turn up instead in his place another man was sent. He was arrested.

Based on the information given by the man the police carried raids at three places and
rescued 6 children along with the agent on 20th April 2005. All the seven children
were provided shelter at the Children's Home, Calicut. The following day they were
taken to the District Government Hospital for a medical checkup. An F.I.R was registered and the accused
(agent and owner of the Gold shop) were produced before the CJM. The accused were remanded to the
Kozhikode Sub Jail for 14 days.
Ranjith along with the three other boys have been restored home, while the other 2 boys were produced before
the CJM for rehabilitation. Source: https://childlineindia.org.in/1098/CaseOfChildLabour.htm