Respected Principal, teachers and my dear companions, I stand before u to speak on the topic of child labour. Child labour deprives children of their childhood, education and exploits children through different forms of work.
Child labour refers to manual labour done by children below the age of fourteen, to earn their living. It is not a new term. It has existed throughout history even during the 19th century, children of poor families used to work in factories, mines and work from home as well.
Article 24 of the Indian Constitution prohibits forced labour and Indian Constitution prohibits the employment of children in factories. It also says that no child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engage in any hazardous employment. But still, child labour exists in our country.
Most of the children work in inadequate working conditions and often get exploited by their owners. They work in factories where bangles and firecrackers are made. They work at very minimum wages with tough working hours. Sometimes they end up losing their eyesight. The agriculture sector also employs a large number of children, which leads to a high rate of child labour in rural areas.
Children are meant to learn not to earn. Poverty, lack of schools and lack of education among the parents are ruining their future. They simply don’t understand if they will learn today, they will be able to earn better tomorrow.
Child labour is evil for our society as it brings hindrance in the growth of it. The need of the hour is that government should make more strict laws against child labour, surprise visits should be made in the factories by the officers and fine should be charged from the lawbreakers of the country.
The government should come up with more welfare programmes for the poor people of the society. These few measures will help us to fight against child labour.