Child labour has always been rampant in Meghalaya. It is violations of the rights of children and is an enormously complex social problem, not only in Meghalaya, but in the whole of India.
Working children are denied their right to education and development, leisure and play, and the opportunity for developing their mental and physical abilities.
Irrespective of what is shown in the official statistics, it cannot be denied that child labour is a significant part of the educated society.
When it comes to Meghalaya, child labour is talked of only children working in coal mines. The existence of child domestic labour is often forgotten in this context because of the notion that it is a safe form of employment. However, there is a possibility that these children working inside private homes, which are isolated, are at a higher risk of abuse.
Child domestic labour is one of the most widespread and exploitative forms of child labour in the state.
According to the 2011 census, there is an estimate of 259.6 million child labourers in the age group of 5-14 years in India.
Child domestic workers help with tasks such as cooking, cleaning, babysitting and other household tasks, selling vegetables and fruits in the marketplace and on the streets.
These children either live with their employers or separately from them. They receive their salaries either in pay or in kind, like food and accommodations.
The families of the children are poor, deprived and large which makes them sell their children to employers such as rich families and businessmen who they believe would provide their children better food and shelter in return for work.
Employers favour child labourers as they come cheap and can be easily coerced to work extra hours whilst also giving a feeling of ownership over them.
The problem of child labour is a serious threat to the civilised world. Despite several attempts from the Centre to broaden the coverage of child labour laws, the magnitude of the socio-economic problem has come in the way of its eradication.
When talking of wiping out child labour, it must also be kept in mind that these children are the sole earners of the family or themselves.
There is, thus, an urgent need to protect children from child labour, ensuring that those of legal age work under decent conditions, without jeopardising their education.
(Contributed by Angela Das, St. Anthony’s College, Mass Media Department)
