Research Abstracts on Child Labour Women Labour - Nipccd

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<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Abstracts</strong> on Child Labour, Labour and Women Labour 1998 - 2009
Diamond Industry
Desai, Kiran and Raj, Nikhil (2001).
Child labour in diamond industry of Surat. NOIDA : V.V. Giri National Labour
Institute. 173 p.
Key Words : 1.CHILD LABOUR 2.DIAMOND INDUSTRY 3.OUT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
4.FAMILY PROBLEM.
Abstract : The study, a part of an all India study commissioned by V.V. Giri National Labour
Institute, has been conducted to investigate the situation of child labour in the diamond
industry of Surat, and seeks to situate the problem in the context of the Child Labour Act
1986. 525 households of child workers and 225 households of control group were surveyed
and detailed interviews were conducted. Data shows that proportion of female child workers
are very low. Most of the children (98%) were staying with their families and 60% were
staying in nuclear families. 80% of the children were in the age group 12-14 years. Two
prominent communities, Patels and Kolis, dominated the field. Ninety four per cent child
workers were migrants. A majority of the fathers were diamond workers. Child workers,
prior to joining the diamond industry work-force (at the age of 11-12 yrs), were studying,
and were not involved in any earning activity. Child workers were found doing mainly four
operations : bottom polishing (32%), facet polishing (25%), table (17%) and top (13%). Forty
per cent of them earned Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000 every month, and the same proportion (40%)
earned Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 per month. In more than half of the households, the
percentage share of the child workers contribution of the total family income was above 30
per cent. Child workers were not receiving benefits such as permanent status, provident
fund, earned leave, sick leave, etc. They worked for 8-10 hours a day. Although 47% of the
total school age children in the area were not getting educated, illiteracy was very low in
these households.60% of the child workers had studied upto fifth or seventh standard. The
implementation of Child Labour Act, 1986 and other legal measures to restrict child labour
was an extremely difficult task, as most of the owners belong to the same social group. In
spite of excellent schooling facilities in the area, the parents understand the overall
employment scenario vis-a-vis their own social networking and influence with respect to the
local employment market. The problem of child labour in Surat has to be dealt with by
taking community leaders and NGOs into confidence. As most of the schools are controlled
by community trusts, their insight should not be overlooked. The problem has to be
addressed from social angles and community themselves should identify the problem. Legal
enforcement machinery has a very limited role in the context of the diamond industry in
Surat as the entire community feels protective about it.