The COVID-19 pandemic, the worst crisis faced by mankind since the second world war will not spare anyone. It has already created much havoc as a result of which humanity is severely suffering and will continue to suffer for the next not known years. It has pushed almost every country in this world into deep recession resulting in massive job losses in all sectors of the economy and its devastating effects have already started affecting the humans.
India is the second most populous country in the world. Our country is home to more than 400 Million Children. They constitute more than 40% of Indian population. India also has the highest number of working children in the world who are employed, not only in small scale industry, but also in industries with hazardous work. There are 10 Million child labourers in India, according to the last census and majority of them are confined to the workplace by employers. In India over 80% of children below 14 years of age are engaged in child labour are based in rural areas . It has been thirty years since parliament passed the law against child labour but still is prevalent in India and is increasing at an alarming rate.
According to International Labour Organisation (ILO) this pandemic would push 400 Million informal workers in India into deep poverty and many families will not be able to provide their children with basic necessities of life and with little or no government support and with no other alternative left they would be forced to employ their children for their survival, it will become the new survival mechanism for them.
According to UN this pandemic will push thousands of vulnerable children into child labour. ILO and UNICEF have noted that number of children locked in child labour had declined by 94 Million since 2000 but UN agencies have already warned that this pandemic has the capacity of reverting the growth .
To spread awareness and for the eradication of child labour from the world in all its form by 2025 ILO introduced world day against child labour in 2002 . Since then 12 June is celebrated as World Child Labour Day. Theme for 2020 is COVID-19 : Protect children from child labour, now more than never. ILO defines Child Labour as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to their mental and physical development. According to the most recent estimates published by ILO in 2017, around 152 Million children were forced into work from 2012 to 2016, including 73 Million in hazardous position.
This pandemic has already affected millions of life and is likely to affect a million more and its impact is going to be long lasting and intense. Loss of livelihood, closure of school for long duration combined with loopholes in the law and poor conviction of violators will make the children worst sufferer of this crisis. Already the condition of children in India was not any good and it is likely to get worse because of this pandemic. With extreme unemployment and poverty many children will be forced drop out of school and join work to support their families .
The government should ensure strict enforcement of child labour laws and provide children and their families with the basic necessities of life so that they are not left to suffer and to prevent them from falling in the traps of trafficking and bonded slavery.
If the government of India will not take immediate and effective actions for protection of children from child labour in this crisis then we are sure to lose the battle against child labour and elimination of child labour by 2025 will just become a dream.
Eduindex News 