FINAL PROJECT assignment to be submitted

1
PROJECT REPORT
(Submitted for partial fulfilment of the Degree of B.Com. Honours in Accounting &
Finance under the University of Calcutta)
TITLE OF THE PROJECT
A Child in Pain is Not a Gain: A Case Study on Savings
habit of Child Labours in and Around Kolkata
SUBMITTED BY:
NAME OF THE CANDIDATE: SRIDIP CHATTERJEE
C.U ROLL NO.: 221224-21-0193
C.U REGN NO.: 224-1111-1269-22
SHIFT: EVENING
SUPERVISED BY:
NAME:-PROF. ASHIRBANI BARDHAN
MONTH & YEAR OF SUBMISSION
JUNE 2025

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Annexure-1A
SUPERVISOR’S CERTIFICATE
This to certify that Mr. Sridip Chatterjee a student of B.Com. Honours in Accounting
& Finance of Seth Anandram Jaipuria College under the University of Calcutta has
worked under my supervision and guidance for his Project work and prepared a Project
report with the title “A Child in Pain is Not a Gain: A Case Study on Savings habit
of Child Labours in and Around Kolkata”
The Project report, which he is submitting, is his genuine and original work to the best
of my knowledge.
Place: Kolkata Signature:
Date: Name: Prof. Ashirbani Bardhan
Designation: Lecturer
College: Seth Anandram Jaipuria College

3
Annexure-1B
STUDENT’S DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the project work with the title “A Child in Pain is Not a Gain: A Case Study on
Savings habit of Child Labours in and Around Kolkata” submitted by me for the partial fulfilment
of the degree of B. Com (Hons.) in Accounting & Finance under the university of Calcutta is my
original work and has not been submitted earlier to any other university/Institution for the fulfilment
of the requirement for any course of study.
I also declare that no chapter of this manuscript in whole or in part of this incorporated in this report
from any earlier work done by others or by me. However, extracts of any literature which has been
used for this report has been duly acknowledged providing details of such literature in the references.
PLACE: NAME: SRIDIP CHATTERJEE
SIGNATURE: ADDRESS: 37/1/2 PATH BARI LANE , KOL:-35
REGISTRATION NO: 224-1111-1269-22
ROLL NO: 221224-21-0193
COLLEGE ROLL NO: 4220

4
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
With regard to my project of “A Child in Pain is Not a Gain: A Case Study on Savings
habit of Child Labours in and Around Kolkata”, I am really grateful to all those people
who have been a part of this project right from its start. The making of this project has been one of the
significant academic challenges I have faced till now and without the support, patience, and guidance
of the people involved, this task would not have been completed. I owe them all my deepest gratitude.
Firstly, I would like to add a special note of thanks for Prof. ASHIRBANI BARDHAN, who acted as
my mentor and guided me throughout this project, despite her many other academic and professional
commitments. Her wisdom, knowledge and commitment to the highest standards inspired and
motivated me. Without her insight, support and energy, this project would not have been possible.
Secondly, I feel highly obliged to all those child labours who cooperated with me for collection of data
and completion of the survey. Finally, I would thank my parents for their support and guidance
throughout the time. This project is dedicated to all those people, who helped me in its completion.
Sridip Chatterjee

5
ABSTRACT
Child labour is a widespread phenomenon in the world, occurring predominantly in developing
countries. Recently, there has been renewed concern about the presence and impact of child labour
from politicians, activists and academics alike. Most of the popular discussion has centered on
misleading statistics, harmful effects of child labour and ways to curtail its incidence. Much of the
recent theoretical literature has focused attention on the fact that the decision to send children to work
is most likely made not by the children themselves, but by households who do so out of dire need.
Poverty is considered to be the root cause of child labour. In fact, this is not true and literacy and
household effect are even bigger variables in the determination, and measurement of child labour in a
society. This raises the issue of the impact of literacy and schooling on child labour and vice versa.
Notwithstanding, a large and rapidly expanding literature on child labour, there is not much empirical
evidence on this issue since much of this literature has concentrated on socially, anthropologically, or
somewhat psychologically, analyzing the causes of child labour rather than studying its consequences,
especially for the impact of learning and household. The present study seeks to fill this significant gap
in the literature on child labour. Broadly, the study can be divided into three parts; developing a reliable
estimate to calculate number of children doing work, identifying important factors for child labour,
and thirdly, developing a profile of today’s child labourer. The exercise is conducted on a primary data
set involving 5-14 years old children from Lahore & Bahawalpur divisions, Pakistan, using a multi-
stage probability, proportional stratified systematic sampling scheme. Close ended questionnaire was
specially developed keeping in view the field and data processing requirements of the project. To avoid
possible biases, proper interviewer’s training and practice sessions were conducted. Information was
collected on family demographics, place of origin and current living status, personal information,
current work history and conditions, personal behaviour, health, perceptions and knowledge and
literacy level on a household basis from the house hold head. The estimator is developed using
Sampford (1967) extension to Brewer (1963) approach for calculating internal selection probabilities.

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TABLE OF CONTENT
SL NO. CHAPTER NAME PAGE NO.
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND.
1.2. CAUSES.
1.3. CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD LABOUR.
1.4. LITERATURE REVIEW.
1.5. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY.
1.6. METHODOLOGY.
1.7. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY.
1.8. CHAPTER PLANNING.
8-16
9-10
10-11
11-12
13-14
14
15-16
16
16
2.
INTERNATIONALAND NATIONAL
LABOUR SCENARIO
2.1 INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO
2.2 INDIAN SCENARIO
2.3 INITIATIVES TAKEN AGAINST CHILD LABOUR
2.4 NATIONAL CHILD LABOUR POLICY
2.5 VARIOUS CHILD POLICES IN INDIA
17-24
18-19
19-21
21-22
22-23
24
3.
PRESENTATION OF DATA, ANALYSYS AND
FINDINGS
3.1 GRAPHS AND CHARTS ON CHILD LABOUR
3.2 PRIMARY DATA ANALYSIS
3.3 FINDINGS
25-42
26-27
27-41
42
4.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
4.1 CONCLUSION
4.2 RECOMMENDATION
43-43
44
45
5. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND QUESTIONARIES 46-49

7
INDEXATION OF DIAGRAMS
Particular Page No.
URBAN WORKING CHILDREN 26
RURAL WORKING CHILDREN 26
WORKING CHILDREN 27
AGE OF CHILD 27
MONTHLY INCOME 28
NO OF CHILD LABOUR 29
NUMBER OF EARNINGS HEAD 30
GENDER 30
CONTRIBUTION IN FAMILY 31
FUTURE ASPIRATION 31
STUDY 32
FAMILY WANT YOU TO STUDY 32
NO OF CHILD (JOIN ANY EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION)
33
SCHOOL 34
NO OF CHILD (SPEND ANY AMOUNT FOR YOUR OWN
ENTERTAINMENT
35
SPEND FOR YOUR OWN 36
ANY SAVINGS 38
JAN DHAN YOINA 39
NO OF CHILD (BANK ACCOUNT ) 39
IDENTITY 40
IDENTITY PROOF 40

9
1.INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND :-
• WHO IS A CHILD?
The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as an individual
who has not attained the age of 18 years. In India, different laws define the words ‘child' and
‘minor' differently. For instance –as per the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
– a child is defined as a person who has not completed 14 years of age.
• WHAT IS CHILD LABOUR?
Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives children of their
childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and that is mentally, physically, socially
or morally dangerous and harmful This practice is considered exploitative by many international
organizations.
In developing countries, with high poverty and poor schooling opportunities, child labour is still
prevalent. In 2010, sub-Saharan Africa had the highest incidence rates of child labour, with several
African nations witnessing over 50 percent of children aged 5–14 working. Worldwide agriculture is
the largest employer of child labour. Vast majority of child labour is found in rural settings and
informal urban economy; children are predominantly employed by their parents, rather than factories.

10
Poverty and lack of schools are considered as the primary cause of child labour. The 1998 national
census of India estimated the total number of child labourers, aged 4 to 15, to be at 12.6 million, out
of a total child population of 253 million in the 5 to 14 age group. However, in 2009–10 a nationwide
survey found the prevalence of child labour had reduced to 4.98 million children (or less than 2% of
the children in the 5 to 14 age group.
1.2 CAUSES :-
There are several causes of child labour. As per different surveys we have noticed
many causes. Some of them are stated below
1. Poverty: Children who come from poor families may be forced to work to support their siblings
and parents or supplement the household income when expenses are more than the parents’ earnings.
It is a huge problem especially in developing countries where parents are unable to generate income
due to the lack of employment opportunities or education. Children can be found employed in mines
or hawking in the streets to earn money that is used to provide basic necessities such as food and
clothing for the family. Children may also be employed in factories to generate income for the family
instead of attending school. Such a practice is a common phenomenon in poverty-stricken regions with
large factories set up by international companies.
2. Low Aspiration: It is important for parents and children to understand that they can work hard and
make something great of themselves. Low aspirations by parents and children is a major cause of
child labour because in such a situation, being employed in a local factory, or selling grocery in the
streets is the normal way of life. To these types of children and parents, success only belongs to a
certain region or group of people. They do not aspire to become professionals in the society or great
entrepreneurs. It is a mindset that forms the very foundation of child labour.
3. Huge demand for unskilled labourers: The demand for unskilled labourers is another cause of
child labour. Children are mostly unskilled and provide a cheap source of labour, making them an
attractive option for many greedy employers. Child labour, by virtue of being cheap, increases the
margin of profits for such entrepreneurs whose only objective is profit maximization even if it comes
at the expense of ethics and good business practices. These types of employers can also force children
to work under unfavourable conditions through manipulation or blatant threats.

11
4. Illiteracy: A society with many educated people understands the importance of going to school and
pursuing dreams. Children have the ability and time to become whatever they aspire to be. Illiteracy,
on the other hand, makes it difficult for many people to understand the importance of education.
Illiterate people view education as a preserve of the privileged in the society. They will therefore not
provide support to children so that they can go to school and build solid foundations for future success.
The same view of life is seen among illiterate parents who prioritize children contributing to
the upkeep of the family over going to school.
5. Early Marriages: Marrying at an early age is a major contributing factor to overpopulation. Young
parents are able to sire a lot of children because they remain fertile for a long time. Having many
children with little or no resources to support them leads to child labour. Older children are forced to
work in order to help their parents support the family.
1.3 CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD LABOUR :-
Consequences of child labour:1
Children are exposed to accidental and other injuries at work. They should thus be protected to prevent
social, economic and physical harm, which persist to affect them during their lifetime. Such injuries
include
• Supporting Fair Trade: Being conscious of the products that we purchase as if it’s too
cheap to be true, it might have been made by underpaid and overworked children in factories.
• Get informed: By educating ourselves about the problems in the society and also keeping a
check on what is being done by the govt. in order to stop it.
• Discouraging people to employ children in homes, shops, factories, etc: Child
Labour cases get a massive increase when various businesses openly use it in various
industries. NGOs currently are helping in making the society aware about this social evil and
we should also contribute by encouraging people to eliminate child labour by not letting these
1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310643/ (RETRIEVED DATE:-03.03.25)

12
poor children get employed at a young age.
• Supporting NGOs like Save the Children: Save the Children offers immediate aid to
victims of child labour, while also working for long-term societal change. It has rescued 9337
children from child labour in ongoing relief and rescue missions in India. Present in 120
countries, Save the Children focuses on providing education and a new life for millions of
children affected by armed conflict and exploitation.
• Sending more children to school: India has the world’s largest educational system, yet
faces the hurdles of low literacy, due to low enrollment. Organizations like Save the Children
execute several initiatives to boost children’s enrollment in schools. The organizations map
out-of-school children and those who are at risk of dropping out and ensures that they enter
into the fold of education.
• Engaging with the Sustainable Development Goals: The success of various
Sustainable Development Goals are meant only when we all contribute together in the
upbringing of these Goals.
• Improving economic growth: Many of the children drift away from the path of education
completely and hence, they end up in child labour. This means that the country has a lack of
formally educated adults who can contribute to the process of nation-building and helping in
the country’s economic growth.

13
1.4 LITERATURE REVIEW :-
1) BOOK DETAILS:
• Name of the book: Child Labour in India: A Bitte
• Truth. Name of author: Mohd. Mustafa and Onkar
Sharma.
• Date of publish: 01- Jan- 1996
• Publishing house: Deep and Deep Publications.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Mustafa Mohd. and Onkar Sharma, in Child Labour in India: A Bitter Truth, state that child
labour is both a social and economic issue; where living conditions improve, it disappears as
children attend school. To end child labour,a society must first meet the basic needs of all its
people.
2) BOOK DETAILS:
• Name of the book: Born to work: child labour in
India.
• Name of author: Neera Burra.
• Date of publish: 1997
• Publishing house: Oxford University Press
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Based on firsthand investigations in industries like brassware and glass, this study exposes the
hazardous conditions faced by child labourers—some as young as five—working nights in
unsafe environments. Despite hostile settings and Mafia-like resistance, the author reveals
widespread exploitation, ineffective state policies, and the severe physical and mental toll on
children, supported by documented evidence and photographs.

14
3) BOOK DETAILS:
• Name of the book: The Child and the State in India: Child Labor and Education Policy
in Comparative Perspective
• Name of author: Myron Weiner Date of publish:1991
• Publishing house: Princeton University Pres
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In The Child and the State in India, Myron Weiner highlights that India has the world's highest
number of working children not in school. Unlike other nations, where child labour ended through
active state intervention driven by societal forces, India’s inaction stems from deep-rooted cultural
beliefs rather than economic factors. Comparing global examples, Weiner argues that key groups
promoting compulsory education elsewhere have not taken similar roles in India.
4) BOOK DETAILS:
• Name of the book: Child Labour
in India Name of author:
Lakshmidhar Mishra Date of
publish: 2000
• Publishing house: Oxford University Press
ABOUT THE BOOK:
This timely study analyzes the most recent reports on child labor in industries across the country to
provide the first and fullest macro-perspective of the nature and scale of this pervasive and tragic
problem.
1.5 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:-
Objective:--
1. To get an idea about the standard of living of Child Labours in and around Kolkata.
2. Payment habit of the child labours.
3. How and why, they are interested or to do such labour.
4. How they spend the amount of money they have earned.
5. To find out if there are any kind of considerations or from government for them Are
they interested or able to do any type of savings or not.

15
1.6 METHODOLOGY:-
• Sources of Data: Primary and Secondary
1. PRIMARY DATA
Procedure:-
The primary data used in this project have been collected by a survey conducted through a structured
questionnaire. It has been collected by interacting with many child labours. It was collected through
personal offline visits to the child labours, by talking with them and through filling up the questionnaire
prepared. Few interview samples of the questionnaire is attached with this project.
Sample Size:-
The sample size of my project is limited to only 45 Child Labours; I have approached to 50 children
but only 45 have responded properly.
Data Representation:-
The data collected through the survey is presented in the form of column graphs, bar graphs, pie
charts and line graph.
Area of Interview:-
The interview was conducted in places in and around Dumdum junction, Kolkata, mainly
Hridaypur, Barasat and Shobhabazar Sutanuti.

16
2. SECONDARY DATA
Procedure:-
All the secondary data used in this project have been collected from different websites, books and
journals. The data required were first searched for in different websites and books, then they were
chosen and formed into separate documents under different heads or chapters.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:-
During the study following problems and limitations are faced
➢ The students were not communicative.
➢ Not all the children have answered all the questions.
➢ Due to family pressure, they didn’t give the right information.
➢ Time was short that’s why survey was short.
➢ The web pages from where the information have been collected
are not properly updated.
1.8 CHAPTER PLANNING : -
1) INTRODUCTION
2) CHILD LABOUR SCENARIO AND INITIATIVES
3) PRESENTATION OF DATA, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
4) CONCLUTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5) BIBLIOGRAPHY

17
2.INTERNATIONALAND
NATIONAL LABOUR SCENARIO

18
2.INTERNATIONALAND NATIONAL LABOUR
SCENARIO
2.1 INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO2
:-
Children around the world are routinely engaged in paid and unpaid forms of work that are not
harmful to them. However, they are classified as child labourers when they are either too young
to work or are involved in hazardous activities that may compromise their physical, mental, social
or educational development. The prevalence of child labour is highest in sub-Saharan Africa. In
the least developed countries, around one in four children (ages 5 to 17) are engaged in labour
that is considered detrimental to their health and development.
The issue of child labour is guided by three main international conventions: the International
Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 138 concerning minimum age for admission to
employment and Recommendation No. 146 (1973); ILO Convention No. 182 concerning the
prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour and
Recommendation No. 190 (1999); and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
These conventions frame the concept of child labour and form the basis for child labour legislation
enacted by countries that are signatories.
PREVALENCE OF CHILD LABOUR
Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest proportion of child labourers (29 per cent of children aged 5
to 17 years). In the Middle East and North Africa, fewer than 1 in 10 (7 per cent) of children in
this age group are performing potentially harmful work compared to 11 per cent of children in
Latin America and the Caribbean.
SITUATION IN ASIA
Recent national surveys from seven South Asian countries estimate 30 million children in
employment, almost 17 million in child labour and 50 million children out of school. Substantial
2
https://frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/a-z-of-terms/child-
protection/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22638373347&gbraid=0AAAAADx98hDiU57KFQlksL4D5N0mtD_-
W&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjJrCBhCXARIsAI5x66Xm2PLneKflNzC-ldyHITfAAhDFoHmsA6DNGh5JBGmZVK90Mwgw2SQaAiM2EALw_wcB
(RETRIEVED DATE: -10.03.2025)

19
variation in child labour estimates exists across the South Asian countries. In absolute terms, child
labour for the 5-17 years age range is highest in India (5.8 million), followed by Bangladesh (5.0
million), Pakistan (3.4 million) and Nepal (2.0 million).
SITUATION IN AFRICA3
Globally, the number of child labourers has declined by one third since 2000, from 246 million
to 168 million. But Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the region with the highest incidence of
child labour with more than one in five children in child labour.
The latest ILO global estimates on child labour indicate that Africa has the largest number of
child labour; 59 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 are involved with hazardous work.
More than one in 5 children in Africa are employed against their will in stone quarries, farms, and
mines. Poverty remains the major reason behind this issue.
SITUATION IN SYRIA4
The conflict in Syria is pushing an ever-increasing number of children into exploitation in the
labour market, a new report revealed.
Children in the country were now contributing to the family income in more than three quarters
of surveyed households, according the report released by Save the Children and UNICEF. In
Lebanon, children as young as six years old are reportedly working. "As families become
increasingly desperate, children are working primarily for their survival.
2.2 NDIAN SCENARIO:-
The definition of a child as given under Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of
1986defines, ‘child means a person who has not completed his fourteen years of age’, however,
mere defining this can’t solve the issue.
➢ Following are the conditions, under which an activity shall be recognized as child labour:
3
https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/african_languages.htm ( RETRIEVED DATE:-25.04.2025)
4
https://www.unicef.org/mena/press-releases/child-labour-caused-by-syrian-crisis ( RETRIEVED DATE:-25.04.2025)

20
is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and interfering
with their schooling.On the World Day against Child Labour, Mint looks at 10 hard-hitting statistics on
the issue of child labour in India.5
1) One in every 11 children in India is working.
2) Child labour has been decreasing at an abysmal rate of 2.2% per year from 2001 to 2011, as per an
analysis of census data by non-governmental organization CRY (Child Rights and You).
3) 80% of working children are based in rural areas and three out of four of these children work in
agriculture, as cultivators or in household industries, most of which are home-based employments.
4) More than half of the 5.5 million working children in India are concentrated in five states—Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
5) Adolescents doing hazardous work form 20.7% of those employed in this age group, while almost
25% of adults work in hazardous conditions.
6) Adolescents between 15 and 17 years of age doing hazardous work form 62.8% of the overall
child labour population.
7) Nearly 10% of adolescents working in hazardous conditions are working in family enterprises.
8) 56% of the working adolescents are no longer studying. And 70% of those in hazardous conditions
are not studying.
9) More boys (38.7 million) than girls (8.8 million) are involved in hazardous work.
10) While the incidence of hazardous work among adolescents is highest in Nicaragua, the number of
adolescents in hazardous work is greatest in India (2.4 million).
According to the statistics given by Indian government there are 20 million child labourers in the
country, while other agencies claim that it is 50 million.
There are a wide range of laws, which guarantee to a substantial extent the rights and entitlement as
provided in the constitution and in the UN convention. Some of them are given below:
1. The Apprentices Act, 1861
2. The Child Labour Act, 1986
3. The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929
5
https://www.livemint.com/Politics/ZPALzwgvOLhyMfxWsobcHM/10-alarming-statistics-on-child-labour-in-India.html
( RETRIEVED DATE:-25.04.2025)

21
Conclusion- At present, in spite of policy of the government regarding removal of child labour. The
various steps taken in this direction and the laws passed about it haven’t controlled the ongoing child
labour. This is possible only with the co-operation of all sections of the society and the law enforcement
agencies and by removing or minimizing the causes of child labour. The main thrust should be on
controlling the population of the country, education of the children and providing sufficient funds for
its removal from the gross domestic product of India.
2.3 INITIATIVES TAKEN AGAINST CHILD LABOUR:-
Initiatives Taken by the Government to Prevent Child Labour In 1979,
the Central Government formed the first statutory committee to analysis and research on the issue
of child labour in India - the Gopalswamy Committee. The committee was also tasked with
making certain recommendations to curb child labour. The Committee studied the problem in
great detail and made some truly insightful recommendations. One of their major observations
was that the problem of child labour is
inextricably linked to poverty. Helping
poor to come out from the shackles of
poverty was important to curtail the level
of child labour. The Committee stated
that till the time poverty continues, it
would be not be possible to fully
eliminate child labour and therefore
efforts to abolish it through legal means
will not yield the desired results. The
Committee felt that in these circumstances, the only alternative left was to ban child labour in
hazardous areas and to regulate and improve the conditions of work in other areas.
Taking into the account the findings and recommendations of the Gopalswamy Committee, the
Union Government enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition and & Regulation) Act in 1986. The
Act prohibited children from being employed in specified hazardous occupations and at the same
time regulated their working condition in other non-hazardous occupations and processes.
In May of last year (2015), a major amendment was made to this Act which stipulated that
children between 5-14 years are not to be employed in any occupation (except in the entertainment

22
industry). But much to the chagrin of child rights activists, who sought a blanket ban on child
labour, the amendment also, mandated that children may be allowed to work at non-hazardous
family works.
Steps Taken by Non- G overnment Organizations and Activists Numerous
child rights activists and NGOs have been at the forefront of tackling the problem of child labour
in India. Spreading awareness is the key to end child labour. Parents and the communities should
be made to realize that a child belongs to school and not to fields and factories. Working in the
remotest corners of the country, NGOs like Save the Children run programmes at the ground-
level to eradicate child labour. Some prominent initiatives include:
➢ Educating the communities about the ills attached to child labour and discouraging them
from sending their children to work.
➢ Increasing enrolment rates and improving education quality so that more children reach
school and stay there.
➢ Mapping of child labourers, vulnerable children and out-of-school children and
facilitating their movement to schools
➢ Setting up of bridge schools for child labourers and grooming them to take the leap to
formal schooling
➢ Rehabilitation and counselling of former child labourers and sending them to school.
➢ Thus we see that through a number of coordinated measures, the government and the civil
society organisations can work collaboratively to battle this social ill and ensure that no
child loses their childhood working in fields and factories.
2.4 NATIONAL CHILD LABOUR POLICY 6
:-
Child Labour Policies:
The Policy of the Government on the issue of Child Labour The National Policy on Child Labour
declared in August, 1987, contains the action plan for tackling the problem of Child Labour. It
envisages:
A legislative action plan: The Government has enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition &
Regulation) Act, 1986 to prohibit the engagement of children in certain employments and to
6
https://labour.gov.in/childlabour/nclp (RETRIEVED DATE:05.05.2025)

23
regulate the conditions of work of children in certain other employments.
Focusing and convergence of general development programmes for benefiting children wherever
possible, A Core Group on convergence of various welfare schemes of the Government has been
constituted in the Ministry of Labour & Employment to ensure that, the families of the Child
Labour are given priority for their upliftment.
National Child labour Project Scheme
The National Child Labour Policy was approved
by the Cabinet on 14th August 1987 during the
Seventh Five Year Plan Period. The policy was
formulated with the basic objective of suitably
rehabilitating the children withdrawn from
employment thereby reducing the incidence of
child labour in areas of known concentration of
child labour.
The operationalization of the NCLP involves:
conducting survey and identification of child labour, particularly in hazardous occupations,
opening up of special schools and supporting them, enrolment of working children in the
special schools and ensuring their formal/informal education up to a maximum period of
three years, providing mid-day-meals and regular health check-ups to the enrolled children,
and finally establishing a Project.

24
2.5 VARIOUS CHILD POLICES IN INDIA:-
Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017
Govt. of India has notified the amendment in the Child labour Central Rules after extensive consultation
with the stakeholders. The rules provide broad and specific framework for prevention, prohibition, rescue
and rehabilitation of child and adolescent workers. It also clarifies on issues related with help in family
and family enterprises and definition of family with respect to child, specific provisions have been
incorporated in rules. Further, it also provides for safeguards of artists which have been permitted to work
under the Act, in terms of hours of work and working conditions.
Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016
Govt. has enacted the Child labour Amendment Act, 2016 which came into force on 1st
Sept. 2016. The
Amendment Act completely prohibits the employment of
children below 14 years. The amendment also prohibits
the employment of adolescent in the age group of 14 to
18 years in hazardous occupations and processes and
regulates their working conditions where they are not
prohibited. The amendment also provides stricter
punishment for employers for violation of the Act and
making the offence of employing any child or adolescent
in contravention of the Act by an employer as cognizable.
Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
Article 24 of the Indian Constitution clearly states that, “No child
below the age of 14 years shall be employed to work in any factory or
mine or employed in any hazardous employment.” The Child labour
Act of 1986 designates a child as a person who has not completed their
14th
year of age. It aims to regulate the hours and the working
conditions of child workers and to prohibit child workers from being
employed in hazardous industries.

25
3.PRESENTATION OF DATA, ANALYSYS
AND FINDINGS

26
3.PRESENTATION OF DATA, ANALYSYS AND FINDINGS
According to the survey conducted, most of the child labours were found in the age group of 10 to 14
years and 14 to 16 years. Maximum of them were males and most of the girls were found to be domestic
labours, whereas boys were found working at stalls, factories, shops, etc.
A wide variation was observed in the income level of the child labours, even at same places and same
occupations. Most of them were found to be earning below Rs. 2000 and no child labours were found
to be earning above Rs. 4000. It was also found in the study that most of the child labours contributed
their total income to their family and in return received up to Rs. 20 to Rs. 50 for their own expenditure
among which some saved a little amount, while some did not save at all. The interview was conducted
with 35 child labours.
The interview was conducted in places in and around Kolkata, especially Hridaypur, and Barasat. It
was mainly carried out in a local slum area, some nearby factories and at some food stalls, small
restaurants and a few shops.
3.1 GRAPHS AND CHARTS ON CHILD LABOUR:
CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA:
Figure No. 1& 2
If we see the charts above, the number of urban working children has not reduced. The disparity is
stark in the ratio of working boys to girls. It has in fact increased from 2.9x in 2004 to 5.9x in 2009

27
implying that roughly 6 underage boys work for every underage working girl. This trend which shows
that boys are employed as child labour, six times more than girls is very disturbing, as the childhood
of these children is being snatched away from them at a very tender age.
Over the years in spite of embracing a progressive outlook, the role of burdening young boys as
‘providers’ to shoulder the family responsibility has not changed even a bit as is evident from the chart
below:
Figure No. 3
India is the only country in the world which celebrates a Children’s Day, in spite of having all the good
intentions and policies; we have to reflect why the young boys are still being forced into growing as
‘men’ sooner than they should growing as ‘men’ sooner than they should.
1) Age of child:
2)
Age of child 5-10 10-14 14-16 16-18
No. Of child 2 19 8
labours
Age of Child
2
0
1
5
1
0
age of child
5
0
5 >
10
10 >
14
14 >
16
16 >
18
TABLE NO: -01
CHART NO: -01

28
❖ Interpretation:
The above chart shows the distribution of the child labours in its different age group.
According to the survey conducted, maximum child labours were found in the age group
of 10 to 14 years and 14 to 16 years and the least in the age group of 5 to 10 years and 16
to 18 years.
2) Monthly income:
Monthly income <2000 2000-4000 4000-8000 8000>
❖ Interpretation:
The above chart shown above represents the income level of the child labours. According to the
survey conducted, the maximum level of income is below Rs 2000. Most of the child labours
earn below Rs 2000 and some earn between Rs 2000 to Rs 4000, whereas no. of child labours
earning in the group of Rs 4000 to Rs 8000 and above Rs 8000 is nil.
No. Of child 27 2 0 0
labours
Monthly Income
30
25
20
15 monthly income
10
5
0
<2000 2000-4000 4000-8000 8000>
TABLE NO: - 02
CHART NO: -02

29
3) Number of members in your family:
TABLE NO: - 03
Number of
members
<3 3-5 5-8 8>
No of child labour 6 16 7 0
❖ Interpretation:
The above bar chart represents the no. of family members of the child labours interviewed.
According to the survey conducted the maximum no. of child labours said that they have family
members in the category of 3 to 5 and 5 to 8 and the least is in the category of Below 3.
4) Number of Earning heads in your family:
TABLE NO: - 04
Number of
earning heads
1-2 2-4 4-6 8>
Number of child
labours
6 23 0 0
<3
21%
03-May
55%
05-Aug
24%
8>
0%
No of Child Labour
<3 03-May 05-Aug 8>
CHART NO: -03

30
❖ Interpretation:
Based upon the survey, the above column chart represents the no. of earning members in the
family of the child labours interviewed. Maximum child labours said that they have earning
members in the category of Between 2 to 4 and secondly 1 to 2 and nil in 4 to 6 and above 8.
5) Gender :
TABLE NO: - 05
Gender Female Male
Number of child labour 18 11
Number Of Earning Heads
25
20
Number of Earning Heads
10
5
1 > 2 2 > 4 4 > 6 8>
Gender
Female
Male
CHART NO: -04
CHART NO: -05

31
❖ Interpretation:
The above bar chart represents the gender of family members of the child labours interviewed.
According to the survey conducted the maximum no. of child labours are female and the least are male.
6) How much do you contribute in your family?
TABLE NO: - 06
Contribution in family Whole amount Half Less than half More than half
Number of child labour 19 9 1 0
❖ Interpretation:
The below bar chart represents the monitory contribution in the family of the child labours interviewed.
According to the survey conducted the maximum no. of child labours contributes the whole amount of
their income, and secondly they contribute more than the half of their income and least less than half
and half.
7) What is your future aspiration?
TABLE NO: - 07
Future
aspiration
actor politician doctor No aim
Number of child 7 1 0 21
Contribution In Family
More than half
Less than half
contribution in family
half
Whole amount
0 5 10 15 20
CHART NO: -06

32
❖ Interpretation:
According to the survey maximum of the child labours had no aim in life and some school going child
labours said they want to become actor. But only a few said they want to become policitician, least
was doctor,
8) Do you want to study ?
TABLE NO: - 08
Response yes No
Number of child labour 28 1
Study
yes no
3%
Future Aspiration
25
20
future
aspiration
1
0
5
actor politician
docto
No aim
CHART NO: -07
CHART NO: -08

33
❖ Interpretation:
According to the survey conducted, 97% of the child labours said that they want to study which is the
maximum and 3% of the child labours said that they don’t want to study which is the least.
9) Do your family want you to study?
TABLE NO: - 09
Response yes No
Number of child labours 26 3
❖ Interpretation:
The above graph shows the reponse of the child labours on whether their family want them to study or
not. According to the survey conducted, maximum child labours said that their family want them to
study. 90% of the child labours said yes on asking whether their family want them to go to school and
10% said no on the question.
10) Are you ready to join any educational institution if given a chance to study?
TABLE NO: - 10
Response yes No
Family want you to study
No 10%
yes 90%
CHART NO: -09

34
CHART NO: -10
❖ Interpretation:
The response of the above given question is represented in the form of line chart. Maximum of the
child labours (86%) came up with the response yes that they would join any educational institution, if
given a chance. Whereas very few (14%) of them said no they would if they get a chance.
11)Do you go to school? if yes then which class do you read in ?
TABLE NO: - 11
Class Under class 3 3-5 Above class 5 No
Number of Child Labour 1 11 2 15
School
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
school
Under class 3 03-May Above class 5
No
86%
14%
No of Child Labour
Yes`
No
CHART NO: -11

35
❖ Interpretation:
Out of the 29 child labours interviewed, only a few of them said that they go to school and
maximum of them said that they don’t go to school. Total 15 of them said no when asked the
question.
12) Do you spend any amount for your own entertainment?
TABLE NO: - 12
response yes No
Number of Child Labours 7 22
❖ Interpretation:
The above pie- chart shows the response of the child labours on the above given question.
Maximum of the child labours said yes as the response and the least said no. 78% of them said
yes and 22% of them said no.
13) If yes, then how much do you spend for your own?
TABLE NO: - 13
Response whole half Less than half More than half
Number of 0 0 6 1
Child Labours
0
5
10
15
20
25
YES` NO
7
22
No of Child Labour
CHART NO: -12

36
❖ Interpretation:
The above bar- chart represents the amount of expenditure done by the child labours. According to the
survey conducted, maximum of the child labours said that they spend less than half of the amount they
earn on themselves whereas very few said that they spend half and more than half on themselves but
the category of whole amount stayed nil.
14) If yes then what and where do you spend?
TABLE NO: - 14
Expenditure No of child labour
Have food in hotels 5
Go to movies 1
Buy stuff for own use 1
Others 0
spend for your own
6
5
4
3
response
2
1
0
whole half Less than More than
half half
CHART NO: -13

37
❖ Interpretation:
The pie chart illustrates how child labourers spend their earnings. A majority (72%) use it to have food in
hotels. About 14% go to movies, another 14% buy items for personal use, while none fall under the “Others”
category. This shows basic needs are the primary focus for most.
15) Do you have any savings?
TABLE NO: - 15
Response yes No
72%
14%
14%0%
No of Child Labour
Have food in hotels Go to movies Buy stuff for own use Others
0
5
10
15
20
25
Yes` No
7
22
No of Child Labour
CHART NO: -14
CHART NO: -15

38
❖ Interpretation:
According to the survey maximum of the child labours said that they have savings and least of
them said they don’t have savings. 24% said yes and 76% said no
16) If yes, then where do you save?
TABLE NO: - 16
saving home bank others
❖ Interpretation:
The above column- chart represents the type of savings of the child labours. Maximum of
the child labours said that they save at other places whereas a few said that they save at
bank and the least said that they save in home modes.
17)If no, do you ever think to save?
TABLE NO: - 17
Response No of child labour
Yes` 14
No 15
Number of Child Labours 0 1 6
Saving
s
others
bank savings
home
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
CHART NO: -16

39
18) Do you know about prime ministers ‘Jan Dhan yojana’? Do you save or do
you want to save in the scheme?
TABLE NO: - 18
Jan Dhan Yojna yes No
❖ Interpretation:
The above pie- chart represents the response of the child labours on the above given question.
Maximum, i.e., 97% of the child labours said no they don’t know about prime minister’s Jan Dhan
Yojna while a few, i.e., 3% said yes, they know about it.
19) Do you have a bank account?
TABLE NO: - 19
Bank Account
yes No
Jan Dhan Yojna
Yes
3%
No
97%
48%
52%
No of child labour
Yes`
No
CHART NO: -17
CHART NO: -18

40
❖ Interpretation:
According to the survey maximum of the child labours said that they don’t have bank account and
least of them said they have bank account 7% said yes and 93% said no.
20)Do you have any identity proof?
TABLE NO: - 20
Identity proof yes No
yes
90%
No
10%
Identity
3
26
Number of Child Labours
7%
93%
No of Child Labour
Yes` No
CHART NO: -19
CHART NO: -20

41
Identity Proof
identity proof
❖ Interpretation:
According to the survey maximum of the child labours said that they have identity proof and
least of them said they don’t have identity proof. 90% said yes and 10% said no.
21)If yes, what identity proof do you have?
TABLE NO: - 21
Identity proofs Birth certificate Adhar card Others
25
20
15
10
5
0
Birth certificate Adhar card Others
❖ Interpretation:
The above column- chart represents the type of identity proofs of the child labours. Maximum of
the child labours said that they have Aadhar card whereas a few said that they have other proofs
and the least said that they have birth certificates.
Number of Child
Labours
21 4
1
CHART NO: -21

42
3.2 FINDINGS:-
1. The number of working boys is nearly six times more than girls, showing a sharp gender
disparity.
2. Most child labourers are aged between 10–16 years.
3. Majority earn less than ₹2000 per month.
4. Most child labourers come from families with 3–8 members.
5. Families mostly have 1–4 earning members.
6. Female child labourers outnumber males in the survey.
7. Most children give their entire income to their families.
8. A majority have no future career aspiration.
9. 97% of the children expressed willingness to study.
10. Most families want their children to get an education.
11. 86% are ready to join school if given the chance.
12. Majority of child labourers do not attend school.
13. Few children spend money on entertainment.
14. Those who spend mostly use less than half their income.
15. Entertainment expenses are mainly on food in hotels.
16. Only a small number of child labourers have savings.
17. Savings are mostly kept in informal places.
18. About half of the non-savers want to start saving.
19. Only one child knows about Jan Dhan Yojana.
20. Very few have a bank account.
21. Most have some form of identity proof.
22. Aadhar card is the most common identity proof.

43
4. CONCLUTION AND
RECOMENDATION

44
4. CONCLUTION AND RECOMENDATION
4.1 CONCLUTIONS
Apart from poverty, the low educational and occupational status of the parents and inadequacy of the
legislative system, as well as, its sufficient enforcement are the other reasons for the persistence of
child labour.
➢ Many of the employers prefer to employ children over the adults for their greater benefits.
Since children can be employed at lower wage rates.
➢ The study suggests that most of the juvenile workers were males, who had the freedom to
enter into any activity, whereas the girls had to restrict themselves to certain selected
occupations which were less strenuous and could ensure them better physical security. Most
the female children were working as family labourers, where they could adjust their working
hours according to the requirements.
➢ The study confirmed that there was widespread illiteracy among the working children.
Nearly one-fifth of them were completely illiterate. Two-fifth who were literate, had not
even reached the primary level and one-fifth had passed the primary class but did not
complete the middle education. Others were going to school.
➢ A wide variation was observed in income distribution of the child workers.
➢ Most of the child workers gave their whole amount of earning to their parents to maintain
their families.
➢ The study suggests that most of the child labourers spend less than half they earn on
themselves. Their expenditure mainly comprises of buying stuffs for own use and have food
in hotels which is up to Rs 10 to Rs 20.

45
4.2 RECOMMENDATIONS
Child labour cannot be approached as an isolated problem. It is a complex socio-economic-
demographic phenomenon which can be reduced and eliminated by multiplicity of actions, both
by government and public, at social as well as individual levels.
Child labour is rooted in poverty and must be viewed with patience and understanding. The
progressive elimination of this problem is possible through improvement in the income distribution
and social awakening.
o protect the child labour from exploitation, the legal measures are needed to be made more strict.
According to the study, most of the working children stay in slums, which are devoid of proper
water supply, sanitation and lighting arrangements leading to an unhealthy growth. Therefore,
provisions should be made for housing with basic amenities.
As said by Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, a child rights activist and recipient of the noble peace prize for
2014, there has been an inordinate delay in passing pending legislations and a perpetual neglect in
appropriate budgetary allocations for the welfare of the children. It is high time India passes the
Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill and it must also increase the budgetary
allocation for the of development and protection of children.

47
5. BIBLIOGRAPHY
The secondary data used in this project is collected from different websites, books, and journals and
from an article.
The books referred to are the following:
❖ Child Labour in India. (2006). India: Mittal.Born to work: child labour in India
❖ Dewan, V. K. (2009). Child Labour: A Socio-legal Perspective. India: Pentagon Press.
❖ Dash, B. M. (2011). Child Labour in Informal Sector. India: DISCOVERY PUBLISHING
HOUSE PVT Limited.
❖ Bhargava, G. (2003). Child Labour. India: Kalpaz Publications.
The journals which were referred for the project were:
➢ The New Indian Express
➢ The Hans India
➢ Daily Mail
The websites referred to in this project are:
en.Wikipedia.org
Labour.gov.in
Standupforacause.wordpress.com
164.100.47.134 ( a pdf file link)
Big News Network.com
Child-labour.blogspot.com

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