Main Article Content
Abstract
From the beginning of human society children have been exploited mercilessly and indiscriminately. Child Labour has been the cheapest and disciplined. Children were made to work at home and outside, in factories and fields, in hazardous occupations, in hotels, restaurants and as domestic aids. Children have been working even at an early age of 6 to 8. The major determinant of child labour is poverty, the lack of adequate and accessible sources of credit. The Constitutional has rightly recognized these crimes against the children and had specific provisions prohibiting the exploitation of the children in various forms of labour. The Article 14 and 15 safeguards the children against the social inequality while Article 21 makes primary education as fundamental right. The Article 23 has specific mention with regard to the bonded labour, child trafficking etc while Article 24 bans employment of children below the age of 24 years into the hazardous and mine work. In the light of these Constitutional provisions and the International Conventions, the Government of India has enacted many laws prohibiting and preventing the child labour in various activities/processes which are harmful to them. The Child Labour Act, 1986 as amended from time to time is the flagship law. Despite the strict laws are in place to protect the children, there are little avenues provided for rehabilitation of such children into the vicious web of exploitation. Until the living standard is raised for the family, the children will remain most vulnerable. The children of migrant workers are at most risks due to uncertain economic security. There is need that the affirmative actions of the Government are accessible in a hassle free and transparent manner.