Research Abstracts on Child Labour Women Labour - Nipccd

Unorganised Sector
Verma, Vandana. (1999).
A study of child labourers in unorganised sector of Rajasthan. Udaipur : M L
Sukhadia Univ, Dep of Economics. 278 p.
Key Words : 1.CHILD LABOUR 2.CHILD LABOUR-RAJASTHAN 3.UNORGANISED SECTOR.
Abstract :The study explored the socio-economic conditions, causes, migration behaviour,
and working conditions of child labour in the unorganised sectors in Rajasthan. In Rajasthan,
the human development index is low, hence the problem of child labour is on the increase.
Being a relatively backward state there is low per capita income, slow pace in the growth of
literacy, backward agricultural practices prevail, scarcity of industries and lack of proper
exploitation of human and natural resources, which all contribute to slow development,
resulting in an increase in the number of child labourers. Most of the parents let or make
their children work in occupations similar to those in which they are engaged. Monthly
income of the families of child labourers ranges between Rs.1500 and Rs.2000. Due to low
income, it is difficult for them to meet their basic needs, which compels them to send their
children to work at a young age. Child labourers are also preferred by their entrepreneurs
because they are easy to handle and do not hesitate doing petty jobs. In the domestic and
construction sector, maximum number of child labourers were from SCs and STs, in
contrast to the child workers working in dhabas (roadside hotels), who belonged to the
general category. 60.56 per cent of the child labourers were literate. Of the literate
children, 79.73 per cent had attained education upto primary level, while 24.58% had
received education upto upper primary level and 1.69% had received education upto higher
secondary level. The number of non-migrant child labourers was more in the domestic
sector, while the percentage of commuters was higher in the construction sector, and in the
dhaba sector, the number of migrant child labourers was higher. The average number of
working hours of all the child labourers was 8.33 hours per day. It was 7.09 hours a day in
the domestic sector, 8.70 hours a day in the construction sector, and 9.20 hours a day in
the dhabas. The average wages of all the three sectors was Rs.495, and while in the
domestic sector it was Rs.527.50, in the construction sector it was Rs.434.17, and in dhabas
it was Rs.523.33. Most of the children worked on temporary or contract or work charge
basis. The study recommended the following measures : 1.provision of free and compulsory
education to child labour; 2.poverty reduction programme to be started for the families of
working children; 3.children working in unorganised sectors should be covered under the
Child Labour Regulation and Elimination Act ; 4.National Commission on Child Labour should
be established; 5.more voluntary agencies may be encouraged to identify child labour, and
community action in all child labour related programmes should be ensured; 6.human
development programmes like DWCRA, employment and education of women should be
promoted and encouraged.
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<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Abstracts</strong> on Child Labour, Labour and Women Labour 1998 - 2009