INDIA AND CHILD LABOR!

Starting from accompanying maid to officially working as an underage child, supporting family, and taking over responsibilities on shoulders. A child goes through a lot when he is below the poverty line. In our country, the government shifts the poverty line in spite of making people move upward and releases stats stating there are fewer people below the poverty line in comparison.
For example, maids help in household works, sometimes they are accompanied by their children, the Chotu who brings tea at your working hours in the office.

What is child labor? Working at a young age is just an incomplete definition of child labor. Child labor implies the ill treatment or utilization of children through any aspect of work that binds children, obstructs their ability to give attention to schooling, and is mentally, physically, socially, or purely harmful. Poverty is considered as the basic reason behind the working of a child. Upscale nations like the US, Europe, and Canada account for just 1% of the crew whereas Asia accounts for about 22%.
History. In 1757, the battle of Plassey ie the British gained power in conquered states of Bihar, Bengal, and Orissa. The states were prominent for agricultural work in the country, so after the battle, the British took advantage of the innocence of children. Also, kids were unaware of their rights, they were forced to work as children due to poverty, unemployment, and many such crises. The demand for laborers was also at the peak and children were enrolled for fewer payments.

Stats of India. The country was the home to the highest number of illegal workings of children in 2015. As agriculture was one of the most active occupations in the country, so to cover-up family issues and financial crisis children we’re a helping hand. In the list of giving birth to India’s child labor hubs, Uttar Pradesh is on top and it accounts for approximately 20% of India’s child laborer. Combining Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra summaries for over half of India’s total child labor population. There are differences in urban and rural areas. Child labor is prominent in rural areas. About 80% of working children live in villages and most of them are part of agriculture practices while others are engaged in household industries and hazardous works. In fact, boys are pushed to do hazardous work compared to girls(according to the International Labour Organization’s World Report on Child Labour 2015).

The positive thing that was seen after decades was a spectacular fall in child labor in the last two decades. For example, there was a considerable 45% decrease in child labor between 2004-05 and 2009-10, due to plans like Right to Education, MNREGA, Mid-Day Meal, which gave children an encouragement to study. https://www.savethechildren.in/resource-center/articles/statistics-of-child-labour-in-India-st
ate-wise
Child labor affects the mental and physical condition of a child. It results in malnutrition, misuse, premature aging, increases drug dependency, sexual abuse, etc.
Child labor can have lifelong negative consequences on children’s physical, mental, and social
development, robbing them of a chance to play and learn,” said UNICEF Executive Director
Henrietta Fore. “We need to address the root causes that push children to work, like poverty
and violence. We also need concrete solutions to ensure that families have alternative income
sources and children have access to quality education and protective services.”
https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_728159/lang–en/index.html

Change in perspective can bring change in the country.