PESQUISA –Peer Reviewed JournalISSN-2455-0736 (Print)

ISSN-2456-4052 (Online)

Bonded Child Labour – A Curse to Indian Society

A. Anitha

Assistant Professor, SRM School of Law, SRM University.

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ABSTRACT

The most inhuman and onerous form of child exploitation is the age old practice of bonded labour in India. In this, the child is sold to the loaner like a commodity for a certain period of time. His labour is treated like security or collateral security and cunning rich men procure them for small sums at exorbitant interest rates. Millions of children are often sold to growing industries such as silk, carpets, beedis, jewelry, among other exports. Parents often find themselves in situations where they are obligated to sell their children in order to pay back their debtors. These enslaved children are often physically abused, forced to work beyond their physical and mental capacity, and locked in these factories under unsanitary and inhumane conditions. Despite existing local and international child labor laws, the number of children exploited and forced to work under inhumane conditions keeps increasing alarming rate in order to keep up with international demand for a variety of goods. The practice of child bonded labour persists like a scourge to humanity in spite of many laws against it. These laws although stringent and providing for imprisonment and imposition of huge fines on those who are found guilty are literally non- functional in terms of implementation. This paper discuss about causes for failure of implementation of enacted laws and steps to effective implementation.

KEY WORDS:Child Labour, bonded child labour, Slave Trade

INTRODUCTION:

The Global economy's insatiable need for larger quantities of cheaper and better products has adverse effects on the well-being of the poor and vulnerable that produces these items. The dynamics of consumerism indirectly(Nivas, 2009) contributes to the existing problem regarding debt bondage child labor in India. Millions of children are often sold to growing industries such as silk, carpets, beedis, jewelry, among other exports. Parents often find themselves in situations where they are obligated to sell their children in order to pay back their debtors. These enslaved children are often physically abused(Yadav, 2011), forced to work beyond their physical and mental capacity, and locked in these factories under unsanitary and inhumane conditions(Pratham Education Foundation). Despite existing local and international child labor laws, the number of children exploited and forced to work under inhumane conditions keeps increasing alarming rate in order to keep up with international demand for a variety of goods. The practice of child bonded labour persists like a scourge to humanity in spite of many laws against it. These laws although stringent and providing for imprisonment and imposition of huge fines on those who are found guilty are literally non- functional( in terms of implementation. I am going to discuss the causes for failure of implementation of these laws and steps for effective implementation(AD, 2016).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. AD, Lissy. "Importance of ‘Life Skills’ in Elderly Woman’s life with Special Reference to Elderly Women Residing in Thrissur ." Pesquisa (2016): 15-16.
  2. Nivas, Kamal. "Child Labour- A challenge to India." Times India 20 November 2009: 18-23.
  3. Pratham Education Foundation. ASER 2016. pdf. New Delhi: ASER Centre, 2017.
  4. Slavery Today. 24 February 2017. 24 February 2017 <
  5. Yadav, Ravi Prakash. "Child Labour In Inida." Yadav, Ravi Prakash. Child Labour In Inida. Pointer Publishers, 2011. 46.

PESQUISA- International Journal of Research Vol.3, Issue-2, May 2018 Page