With child labour decreasing at a dismal rate of only 2.2% per year it would take more than a century to end the menace, a report said today. On the eve of World Child Labour Day, the report comes as as a shocking reminder of the vulnerability of children in Indian cities.
An analysis of census data by CRY (Child Rights and You) has revealed that child labour has been decreasing at a mere 2.2 per cent per year over the last decade, contrary to popular perception of its substantial reduction.
Stating that over a crore children continue to be a part of the country’s workforce, the report said at this pace it would take more than a century to end the menace.
Child labour in urban areas has increased by 53% during 2001-2011.
This is of utmost concern especially since enforcement machinery is primarily based in urban regions and the implementation of child protection structures is stronger in urban India. This increase in urban child labour could be attributed to increased migration including seasonal migration for employment as well as trafficking of unaccompanied minors.
– Komal Ganotra, Director, Policy & Research, CRY.
Interestingly, more than half of working children in India are concentrated in five states namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.These states account for more than 55 lakh of child workers.
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