Essays

A concern of child labour exists from poverty. We have to understand as why children go to work. If parents don’t send their children to work I am sure factories will not be able to consume them. Why poor parents feel children as their assets who will earn money for their home?

Are they forced by their parents to go to work? If yes why? Nearly 30% of populations in poor countries are poorest of poor who are not even able to earn enough for one day food with big family have to largely depend on children to earn and feed. Parents of these children are mainly illiterate or semi literate are unable to find jobs, which can provide enough salary.

Dream of education to children is impossible unless suitable employment opportunities made available to at least one-person in the family. Simply by opening schools and providing books are not sufficient measures. We need to understand the reason behind child labour that is poverty and unemployment. Minimizing poverty and creation of more and more suitable jobs to parents are the only solution of eradication of majority of child labour problem.

Some percentage of child labour comes from brutality harassments by parents or stepparents. They are mainly from urban areas of lower middle-income group. This percentage is too less and easily controllable by penalties to such parents and children rights. But rural poverty and lack of employment or partial employment and illiteracy has given birth to majority of child labour problem. Our understanding should be little more practical as no parents want their children work at the age when children are to study and play.

System of child labour prevails in the countries, which are poor or underdeveloped. Nearly 70% of world's poor live-in Asia alone and major contribution made by China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Where 70%of populations live in rural areas have main employment in agriculture and small and cottage industries.

Major percentage is illiterate or semi literate. In India alone around 45% of total thick population of one billion is illiterate semi-literate who is not able to find jobs in modern industries. 36% of total India's population is illiterate. Main traditional crafts manufacturing has almost collapsed due to lack of demand in international market has further aggravated unemployment crisis.