The Plight of Child Labour: A Global Crisis

Shailesh Singh Thakur

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engg. Dept.

shailesh.thakur@kalingauniversity.ac.in

Keyword – child labour

One of the most important problems facing our planet now is still child labour. In spite of tremendous progress in many facets of society, millions of children worldwide continue to be exploited, denied the opportunity to receive an education, and compelled to work in dangerous environments. This problem impedes children’s chances for a better future in addition to robbing them of their youth.

Poverty is one of the main causes of the widespread use of child labour. Every member of an impoverished family, whatever of age, frequently finds themselves in circumstances where they must contribute to the household income in order to survive. Children are consequently forced to forsake their schooling in favour of working in a variety of jobs, from manufacturing and mining to agriculture and other dangerous jobs.

In addition, the cycle of child labour is sustained by elements including prejudice, lack of access to education, and cultural norms. Children from underprivileged populations, ethnic minorities, and rural areas are disproportionately affected in many parts of the world, especially in developing nations. Discrimination against people on the basis of gender, caste, or ethnicity makes some groups even more vulnerable by forcing children into child labour situations from which they have little chance of escaping.

A multimodal strategy that tackles the underlying causes of child labour while offering opportunity and support to impacted children and their families is needed to counteract it. This entails putting strict labour laws into place and upholding them, funding social welfare and education initiatives, and tackling the structural injustices that support discrimination and poverty. Governments, civil society organizations, and the commercial sector working together is also essential to developing long-term solutions and establishing an atmosphere where kids may grow and prosper.