Research Abstracts on Child Labour Women Labour - Nipccd

ILO Project
Satapathy, D.M, et. al (2005).
Socio-clinical profile of child labourers in Berhampur Town of Orissa. Health and
Population Perspectives and Issues, Apr-Jun, 28(2) : 89-98.
Key Words : 1.CHILD LABOUR 2.WORKING CONDITION 3.EXPLOITATION CHILD LABOUR
4.HEALTH STATUS 5.HEALTH STATUS CHILD LABOUR
Abstract : Child labour is a major social problem. In 2002, the International Labour
Organization (ILO) had estimated that about 246 million children aged 5-17 years were
employed worldwide and 98% of these were in developing countries. With more than 10.4
million child labourers in the 1991 Census, India has the largest number of child labourers in
the world. These children mostly live in urban slums and are exposed to the risk of
infectious diseases, malnutrition and impaired cognitive development. The present study
investigated the socio-clinical profile of 335 working children (5-15 years), engaged in
different sectors, in Berhampur town of Orissa. The study was conducted by the
Department of Community Medicine, MKCG Medical College, Berhampur during October-
December 2003. Data was collected through observational technique, interviews,
questionnaires and physical examinations. It was observed that 55% of the children were
between 13-15 years, 44% were from rural areas and 61% were from large families (parents
with more than 2 children). In 41.7% cases, more than one sibling had joined the labour
force. It was also found that 35% of the children did not attend any school while 51% had
primary and 14% had secondary level education respectively. The various reasons given for
joining the labour force were to support or supplement the family income (62%), less or no
interest in studies (18%), being beaten or scolded by the teacher (11%) and out of self
interest (9%). The study also revealed that many children had to work beyond their physical
capabilities, the working hours varied from 3.5 hours per day to 12 hours and 75% children
were not given any food during working hours. The wages were exploitatively low, i.e. Rs
297.90 per boy and Rs. 306 per girl per month for an average 8 hours working day.
Different grades of malnutrition were observed among 85% boys and 73% girls. The
common diseases among these children included anaemia (51.34%), respiratory tract
infections (22.08%), helminthic infestations (21.49%), scabies and skin infections (16.41%)
and minor injuries (5.67%). One girl had goitre. More than two thirds of the children
(68.4%) were addicted to betel nut or chewing tobacco products like khaini or zarda, 23.4%
were bidi smokers and 7.7% consumed alcohol. Thus, immediate action by Government and
NGOs is required for alleviating the plight of working children, by establishing more
vocational and educational institutions, creating awareness among the public about the
hazards of forced labour, providing nutritional benefits and compulsory primary education
for children, and placement services for children who had undergone vocational training in
schools.
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<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Abstracts</strong> on Child Labour, Labour and Women Labour 1998 - 2009