Child labour in Aligarh lock industry

Abstract

Child labour is a major social problem in the developing countries like India. Millions of Child labour not only removes of all joy of childhood but also crush the right to normal physical and mental development. Child labour is the most mistreated labour class in India. Child labour in unorganised sector is unsecured and backward physically, socio-economically, educationally and in other aspects. Child labour is mostly concentrated in Asia and Africa, which together account for more than 90 % of the total child employment. Asia is led by India which has more than 44 million child labourers and the largest child workforce in the world. Children work to help their families in ways that are harmful and exploitative. This paper focuses on the working, economic, health, problems and vulnerabilities of child labours in Aligarh lock industry. Child labour hampers the normal physical, intellectual, emotional and moral development of a child. Children who are in the growing process can permanently distort or disable their bodies when they carry heavy loads or are forced to adopt unnatural positions at work for long hours. Occupational diseases are mainly caused due to improper management of the occupational health of the workers. The study is mainly based on primary data collected through field surveys. Questionnaire based interviews of child workers household have taken from different wards of the city. Various information of 1000 child workers has been gathered from extensive survey of field investigation. Analysis shows that the conditions of child labour are poor and they are facing many problems, such as low wages, long working hours, abuse, beating and heath problems ,etc.