English Essay, Paragraph, Speech on “Child Labour” for Kids and Students for Class 8, 9, 10, Class 12 and Graduation Examination

Child Labour

Essay No. 01

Although forms of child labour are still in effect today, the worst of it is in the past. Commonly defined as work performed by children endangering their health or safety, interfering with their education, or keeping them from activities that are important for their development, child labour began centuries ago. It started with the rise of industrial production and capitalism. The worst took place in the 1800s and early 1900s when such industrialization was on the rise, and before laws were in effect. However, child labour in all forms has not been fully removed from society today. The most common places that children were put to work were textile factories, coal mills, farms, and other various factories. The reason that children were put-to work in these environments is primarily due to machines. They were responsible for keeping the machines running smoothly, even if it put them in danger. In textile mills, the youngest were known as “scavengers” and “piecers” (child labour). The scavengers would pick up the loose cotton from underneath the machinery, while it was still in motion. The piecers were stationed where wool was spinning.

Essay No. 02

Child Labour

Wordsworth’s famous line: “Child is father of the Man” is known to every English-knowing person. But we take such wise saying as only without bothering that they deserve our serious attention. The same poet says, “Heaven lies around us in our fancy!”

Now, we should think about a vast majority of child labourers in our country. Do they enjoy heavenly bliss which they deserve? if not, who is held responsible for this ? Of course, we ourselves. The future of every nation depends upon its children, If we do not have ideal children, how can we hope that they will grow into ideal men and women?

Today Millions of children in our country are engaged in doing manual jobs in the houses of rich people, in hotels, restaurants, offices and factories. Many of the child labourers have to do even most hazardous jobs such as making matches, firecrackers, etc.

These children should actually be studying in schools. Education from the age between 6 and 14 has now been made a fundamental right. The government is now legally bound to provide free and compulsory elementary education to every child of India.

The Supreme Court has banned the employment of children in hazardous vocations. Still, the menace goes on. Many poor and illiterate people do not send their children to school. They do not understand the value of education. The want to increase their family income by sending their children to work at meager wages. They want that their children should earn for themselves at least without being a burden on them.

Surprisingly, now when several steps have been taken to provide free education and even midday meals to students belonging to poor families, the situation has not changed drastically. Parents belonging to lower section of society are persuaded to send their children to school. Many of these children end up as dropouts after primary or middle classes and in some cases even before completing primary classes.

The parents of these children cannot understand that if their children get educated, they can earn much more in the long run than they can ever dream of while doing petty and menial jobs.

The most heinous aspect of child labour is bonded labour. Many poor little children work in brick-kilns, factories, restaurants, shops and houses as bonded labourers. They are not allowed to leave. They are given just coarse, scantly meals and old clothes for covering their bodies. Many of such bonded children and other labourers have been got released by some awakened people like Swami Agnivesh but many more still are there.

Many Indian goods have been rejected abroad for having been manufactured by employing child labourers. Those who-employ child labourers at their places should be socially boycotted and nobody should buy their goods even within the country. Moreover, there should be a mass movement against child labour by mobilizing public opinion through efforts of NGO’s, media and educational institutions.