Child Labour and Education in India: Promises and Challenges

Abstract

Child labour is a global reality. It is both cause and consequence of socio-economic backwardness. In India, child labour is considered a ‘curse’ for the nation’s development. There is a diverse range of factors that perpetuate child labour in India. The highlighted factors of the proliferation of child labour are destitution, illiteracy, unemployment, underemployment, large-family size, low family income, ignorance of the parents towards the importance of education and many others. Notably, child labour is most prevalent in the unorganised sector primarily as domestic workers, restaurant and eateries’ workers, automobile repairing workers, construction workers, shop, and canteen workers and as helpers in various occupational fields. Over the years, child labourer has been facing social, economic, physical and psychological problems in India. Some of the serious issues faced by child labour are social abuse, violence, discrimination, stress and vulnerability. The government has been a failure to abolish child labour due to a lack of effective labour laws, government mechanisms and state’s agencies. Education is, therefore, one of the primary conditions for children to overcome this problem. Against this background, this article understands the current patterns in child labour in India. Based on the secondary sources, it underlines the educational challenges faced by child labour in India. It also discusses gendered issues before the education of child labour.