Social activists have come down heavily on the Modi Government in India. This is because a recent move by the Indian Government opens many loopholes in the Anti child labor laws here.
In a new move, the Indian government has allowed children below the age of 14 to participate in their family’s commercial activities.
This according to activists puts a dampner on the anti-child labor movement, as it is open to interpretation and misuse.
However,the matter is not all that simple. Unlike the West, India does not have a wholistic social security cover and network. These facilities are largely only available to people working in the organized sector by way of Provident Fund (for pension and post retirement ), and Employees State Insurance, which provides medicare to these persons (again only as long as they are working in organized sector).
This leaves the bulk of population without any cover. Add lack of primary healthcare facilities and malnutrition, which causes high rates of infant mortality, the issue gets complicated. This prompts these rural families to produce more children, simply because they do not know how many, if any will survive.
The result is more mouths to feed and clothe than can be afforded by these people, causing a viscious circle.
Perhaps a system where these children can learn the family trade, like the old apprenticeship system followed in the West, coupled with support from Non Government Organizations (NGOs), which would somewhat provide support for education and recreation for these children might be a via-media in the medium term.
After all child labour was rampant even in USA till the social security infrastructure came into place there.
