Which Social Cause Will I like to Contribute, Why and How?

Assignment 3

Essay

A report submitted to

Prof. Jahnvi Andharia

In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the course

Indian Social and Political Environment

By

Mehul Popat (Roll: 155068)

Section B

On

10-03-2016

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Which social cause will I like to contribute, why and how?

India has more than 400 million of child population. India alone accounts for 10.12 million child labours whose age lie between 5 to 14 years (Census 2011). An estimated figure of 11.6 lakh children lack necessary immunization and die within a year of their birth (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India). Every second child suffers from malnutrition (NFHS, 2005-06). Only 58.30% enrol for the elementary level primary education and less than 50% go on to enrol for higher education (MoSPI, 2012). Girls getting married below age of 18 years constitute nearly 45% of girls in India (NFHS, 2005-06). 1 out of every 11th child in India is working instead of studying.

The above list is just a sample of a larger picture of sufferings of children in our country. As the saying goes “Within the Child, lays the fate of the future”. It is not just about Child Labour, Child education, Child abuse or the Malnutrition; I would like to contribute to children of my country.  My focus would be on child labour and child education. Both of these are interlinked and is not possible to separate one from other.

Child Labours are an integral part of labour force. Most of these children deprived of basic essentials like food and education. Poor family condition forces most of these children at tender age to contribute to their family income thereby, sacrificing their own health and development. It hampers overall physical, mental, and moral development of child and makes him/her more prone to diseases.

What exactly is child labour?

The term ‘child labour’ refers to the work deprives children of their childhood and that is harmful to his/her development. They spend time working and do not get chance to attend school.

Distribution of child labours around the world across different sectors shown below:

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Child labours in India

With more than 10 million child labours in the India (Census 2011), India suffers from the plight of child labour. Definitions of child labour differ between our Census and UNICEF. While Census defines child labour for age 17 years and below whereas UNICEF defines it for age 5 to 11. The constitution of India in the fundamental rights defines it for children between 5 to 14 years of age. The trend in last 10 years shows that the number of child labours have decreased from 12.66 million (Census 2001) to 10.12 million in the most recent census. Though the trend is on positive side but the irony is that still the numbers are quite large and it is evident that the government is unable to implement combating strategies effectively.  

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