{"id":46147,"date":"2025-06-24T21:03:33","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T15:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=46147"},"modified":"2025-06-24T21:03:48","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T15:33:48","slug":"child-labour-rescues-202425","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/24-06-2025\/child-labour-rescues-202425","title":{"rendered":"Child Labour Rescues in 2024\u201325: C-LAB"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Vulnerable Sections, Government Policies &amp; Interventions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the <strong>Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB)<\/strong>, in partnership with the<strong> Just Rights for Children (JRC) network<\/strong>, released a report related to <strong>child labour rescues in 2024\u201325.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Findings of Report<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over <strong>53,000 children were rescued<\/strong> across 24 states and union territories (Between April 2024 and March 2025).\u00a0\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Telangana topped the list<\/strong> with 11,063 rescues, followed by <strong>Bihar<\/strong> (3,974), <strong>Rajasthan <\/strong>(3,847), <strong>Uttar Pradesh <\/strong>(3,804), and <strong>Delhi<\/strong> (2,588)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"c6babc\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"642\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Child-Labour-Rescues-in-2024\u201325.png\" alt=\"Child Labour Rescues in 2024 25\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-46150\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c6babc; width:342px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Child-Labour-Rescues-in-2024\u201325.png 600w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Child-Labour-Rescues-in-2024\u201325-280x300.png 280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Alarming Trends:<\/strong> The report reveals that nearly<strong> 90% <\/strong>of rescued children aged 10 to 14 were found working in sectors classified as the<strong> worst forms of child labour <\/strong>\u2014 <em>including <\/em><strong><em>spas, massage parlours, and orchestras.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Legal Action and Enforcement: <\/strong>A total of 38,388 FIRs were registered and 5,809 arrests made, with <strong>85% of arrests directly related to child labour<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Telangana, Bihar, and Rajasthan led in enforcement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>States like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh showed high rescue numbers but fewer arrests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Policy Recommendations: <\/strong>The report calls for the<strong> launch of a National Mission to End Child Labour,<\/strong> the formation of <strong>district-level Child Labour Task Forces<\/strong>, and <strong>better coordination <\/strong>between NGOs and law enforcement to ensure prosecution and rehabilitation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Definition of Child<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNHRC)<\/strong>: A child as an individual who has <strong>not attained the age of 18 years<\/strong>.<strong>India <\/strong>has been<strong> a signatory <\/strong>to the UNHRC since 1992.<br>&#8211; <strong>International Labour Organization (ILO):<\/strong> Child is any person under 18.<br>1. <strong>Child Labour<\/strong> <strong><em>(as per the ILO)<\/em><\/strong> refers to work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to their physical and\/or mental development.<br><strong>Constitutional Provisions Related To Child<\/strong><br>1. <strong>Article 15(3) (Protective Discrimination):<\/strong> It empowers the State to make special provisions for children, recognizing their need for additional safeguards and support.<br>2. <strong>Article 21A (Right to Education):<\/strong> It guarantees <strong>free and compulsory education<\/strong> for all children aged 6 to 14 years.<br>1. This provision, <strong>added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment (2002)<\/strong>, is central to preventing child labour by ensuring access to schooling.<strong>Article 24 (Prohibition of Child Labour):<\/strong> It<strong> explicitly prohibits<\/strong> the employment of children below the age of 14 in factories, mines, or any other hazardous employment. This is a <strong>direct constitutional safeguard<\/strong> against exploitative labour.<strong>Article 39(e) and 39(f):<\/strong>Children are not forced by economic necessity to enter vocations unsuited to their age or strength.Childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and moral and material abandonment.<strong>Article 45 (Early Childhood Care and Education):<\/strong> It directs the State to provide early childhood care and education for all children below the age of six, laying the foundation for long-term development and protection.<strong>Legal ProtectionMinimum Wages Act, 1948 <em>(amended in 1986)<\/em>: <\/strong>A \u2018child\u2019 is a person who has<strong> not completed his fourteenth year of age.Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016<\/strong>:<strong> <\/strong>It prohibits \u201cthe engagement of children in all occupations and of adolescents in hazardous occupations and processes\u201d wherein adolescents refers to those under 18 years; children to those under 14. The Act also imposes a fine on anyone who employs or permits adolescents to work.<strong>Do You Know?Gurupadswamy Committee (1979) <\/strong>observed&nbsp; poverty is main factor for the child labour. It recommended that <strong>a multiple policy approach<\/strong> was required in dealing with the problems of working children.<strong>The Child Labour (Prohibition &amp; Regulation) Act was enacted in 1986 <\/strong>based on the recommendations of<strong> Gurupadaswamy Committee.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reasons Behind Child Labour in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Poverty and Economic Compulsion:<\/strong> According to the <strong>Ministry of Labour &amp; Employment,<\/strong> poverty remains the primary driver of child labour.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Families struggling to meet basic needs often rely on children to supplement household income, especially in <strong>rural and informal sectors.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of Access to Quality Education:<\/strong> Many children drop out of school due to poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, or financial constraints.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Once out of school, they are more likely to enter the workforce.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Illiteracy and Low Awareness:<\/strong> Parents with limited education may not fully understand the long-term value of schooling or the legal protections against child labour.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It perpetuates a cycle of exploitation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Demand for Cheap Labour:<\/strong> Industries such as beedi-making, carpet weaving, and fireworks often prefer child workers for their nimble fingers and lower wages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cultural and Social Norms:<\/strong> In some communities, child labour is normalized or even seen as a rite of passage.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Girls, in particular, may be pulled into domestic work or caregiving roles at a young age.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Migration and Trafficking:<\/strong> Children from marginalized communities are often trafficked or migrate with families to urban areas, where they end up in exploitative jobs without legal safeguards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f3ccd9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/06\/consequences-of-child-labour-1024x601.webp\" alt=\"consequences of child labour\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-46148\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f3ccd9; width:460px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/06\/consequences-of-child-labour-1024x601.webp 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/06\/consequences-of-child-labour-300x176.webp 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/06\/consequences-of-child-labour-768x451.webp 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/06\/consequences-of-child-labour.webp 1526w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Model State Action Plans<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Ministry of Labour &amp; Employment<\/strong> has circulated model plans to guide states in enforcement, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Support for Action Against Child Labour (SAFAL)<\/strong>: It aimed at strengthening enforcement and community-based monitoring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Policy on Child Labour (1987):<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Focus on rehabilitating children in hazardous occupations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Convergence of welfare schemes to support families of child labourers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Launch of project-based interventions in high-incidence areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Child Labour Project (NCLP):<\/strong> Implemented in districts with high child labour prevalence. It provides:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Special training centres for rescued children<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bridge education, vocational training, mid-day meals, and stipends<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support for mainstreaming into formal schools<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Now integrated into the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Success Stories&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Velpur Mandal in Telangana<\/strong> as a model for <strong>eradicating child labour<\/strong> through community engagement, school retention, and strict enforcement \u2014 a testament to what\u2019s possible with sustained local action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/rajasthan-telangana-bihar-child-labour-rescues-2024-25-report-10083485\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: IE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Recently, the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB), in partnership with the Just Rights for Children (JRC) network, released a report related to child labour rescues in 2024\u201325.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Reasons Behind Child Labour in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Poverty and Economic Compulsion: According to the Ministry of Labour &#038; Employment, poverty remains the primary driver of child labour.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Families struggling to meet basic needs often rely on children to supplement household income, especially in rural and informal sectors.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Lack of Access to Quality Education: Many children drop out of school due to poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, or financial constraints.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Once out of school, they are more likely to enter the workforce.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/24-06-2025\/child-labour-rescues-202425\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46147"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46167,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46147\/revisions\/46167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}