Child Labour Rescues in 2024–25: C-LAB

General Studies Paper -2

Context

Recently, the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB), in partnership with the Just Rights for Children (JRC) network, released a report related to child labour rescues in 2024–25.

Key Findings of Report

• Over 53,000 children were rescued across 24 states and union territories (Between April 2024 and March 2025).
• Telangana topped the list with 11,063 rescues, followed by Bihar (3,974), Rajasthan (3,847), Uttar Pradesh (3,804), and Delhi (2,588)
• Alarming Trends: The report reveals that nearly 90% of rescued children aged 10 to 14 were found working in sectors classified as the worst forms of child labour — including spas, massage parlours, and orchestras.
• Legal Action and Enforcement: A total of 38,388 FIRs were registered and 5,809 arrests made, with 85% of arrests directly related to child labour.
  • Telangana, Bihar, and Rajasthan led in enforcement.
  • States like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh showed high rescue numbers but fewer arrests.
• Policy Recommendations: The report calls for the launch of a National Mission to End Child Labour, the formation of district-level Child Labour Task Forces, and better coordination between NGOs and law enforcement to ensure prosecution and rehabilitation.

Reasons Behind Child Labour in India

• Poverty and Economic Compulsion: According to the Ministry of Labour & Employment, poverty remains the primary driver of child labour.
  • Families struggling to meet basic needs often rely on children to supplement household income, especially in rural and informal sectors.
• Lack of Access to Quality Education: Many children drop out of school due to poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, or financial constraints.
  • Once out of school, they are more likely to enter the workforce.
• Illiteracy and Low Awareness: Parents with limited education may not fully understand the long-term value of schooling or the legal protections against child labour.
  • It perpetuates a cycle of exploitation.
• Demand for Cheap Labour: Industries such as beedi-making, carpet weaving, and fireworks often prefer child workers for their nimble fingers and lower wages.
• Cultural and Social Norms: In some communities, child labour is normalized or even seen as a rite of passage.
  • Girls, in particular, may be pulled into domestic work or caregiving roles at a young age.
• Migration and Trafficking: Children from marginalized communities are often trafficked or migrate with families to urban areas, where they end up in exploitative jobs without legal safeguards.

Model State Action Plans

• The Ministry of Labour & Employment has circulated model plans to guide states in enforcement, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts.
• Support for Action Against Child Labour (SAFAL): It aimed at strengthening enforcement and community-based monitoring.
• National Policy on Child Labour (1987):
  • Focus on rehabilitating children in hazardous occupations.
  • Convergence of welfare schemes to support families of child labourers.
  • Launch of project-based interventions in high-incidence areas.
• National Child Labour Project (NCLP): Implemented in districts with high child labour prevalence. It provides:
  • Special training centres for rescued children
  • Bridge education, vocational training, mid-day meals, and stipends
  • Support for mainstreaming into formal schools
  • Now integrated into the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.