‘Collective efforts must to achieve child labour-free society’

 

 

 

CHILD labour has remained a big problem world-wide. Much has been said and written about the menace but the rising figures tell that the problem is growing each passing year. The coronavirus pandemic has added to the woes as many children have been forced into child labour due to loss of earning members of the family or total stop on income due to lockdown. On the occasion of Anti-Child Labour Day (June 12), ‘The Hitavada’ reached out to Dr Nandkishor Bhagat, HoD, Criminology and Correctional Administration, Athawale College of Social Works, to know more about the problem. He has been a social activist guiding students in subjects related to children and crime and has seen the problem of child labour from close quarters. Briefly explaining the problem, Dr Bhagat said, children below 14 years if employed in factories, mines, construction sites, etc, can be considered child labourers.

 

The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 provides protection to children from being forced into any working environment. It also prohibits children to be engaged in any hazardous employment. The 48-year-old social worker admits that there is a sharp decline in child labour in and around Nagpur district in the last decade. “However, it is not completely uprooted. Additionally, children forced into begging should also be considered under child labour which is increasing in the city,” he said. He lamented that the number of social organisations working extensively in this field is less. However, he praised the working of ChildLine in helping distressed children.

 

Asked about Government’s steps to curb child labour, Dr Bhagat mentioned that Government should have clear conscience to eliminate child labour. “Government and social organisations, must act jointly and create awareness among parents. It should initiate talks, seminars, and workshops in schools, colleges, slums, etc, to make children aware of their social, survival and educational rights. Government can initiate ‘beggars-free’ or ‘child labour-free Nagpur’ campaigns to get rid of child labour,” said Dr Bhagat. “If Government works in the right direction, it can surely achieve a ‘no child labour’ status,” he hoped. Dr Bhagat, who is also the Convenor of the Indian Society of Criminology, Nagpur Chapter, urged common people to be empathetic. “Indian culture teaches us to empathise. We must not forget this. Empathise with a child you see working anywhere,” Dr Bhagat advised.

 

About this year’s Anti-Child Labour Day theme –‘Universal Social Protection to End Child Labour’ Dr Bhagat said, it’s the implementation of themes at grass-root level that matters. “Government alone cannot achieve social milestones. With collective efforts of administration, social bodies, and common people, such social causes can be realised,” he said and suggested to strengthen police-public dialogues. While agreeing to UNICEF’s cautionary warning that COVID-19 may prompt many children towards labour, Dr Bhagat said, “Yes, we cannot deny this possibility. Many children lost their families, rendering them destitute. They may turn to child labour to survive. But Government is taking steps in this direction. However, correct data and records of such children are needed. Official records should be maintained and released regularly to keep a tab on child labour,” an optimistic Dr Bhagat concluded. n