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Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, Online ISSN 2278-8808, SJIF 2021 = 7.380, www.srjis.com PEER REVIEWED & REFEREED JOURNAL, MAY-JUNE, 2021, VOL- 8/65

ATTITUDE OF EDUCATED PERSONS’ TOWARDS CHILD LABOUR Lokanath Das M.Ed., RNIASE, CUTTACK, Bapud1995@gmail.com

Paper Received On: 21 JUNE 2021 Peer Reviewed On: 30 JUNE 2021 Published On: 1 JULY 2021

Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their childhood, interference with their ability to attend regular school and is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful. So the present study is carried out to investigate the attitude of educated persons’ towards child labour. The size of the sample was eighty educated persons and was collected through random sampling. The sample consisted of 40 males and 40 females of Bhadrak district, out of which 45 were from urban and 35 from rural. A category of self- employed and govt. employed educated persons of 43 and 37 respectively were selected. The researcher adopted descriptive survey method and used self-made questionnaire tool. The Self-made questionnaire was a 5 point ATR scale as strongly agree, agree, cannot say, disagree and strongly disagree consisting of 40 items. The collected data was analyzed through mean, SD and t-ratio. From the above study it was found that there is no significance of difference between male and female educated persons towards child labour, which is a major concern of today’s society. Keywords- Labour, Exploitation, Educated person. Scholarly Research Journal's is licensed Based on a work at www.srjis.com

INTRODUCTION Childhood is something precious. It is a dynamic and vital part of life that moulds one's total personality and hence calls for nurture. Child labour is a worldwide phenomenon. It is that social evil which kills the childhood of poor children. Any child out of school is a child labour. Most of the child labourers are engaged in agriculture and allied subject like livestock, foresting and fisheries. The main causes of child labour are poverty, unemployment and excess of population. It is a multidimensional problem in India. The parents of child labourers are mostly unemployed, desperate for secure employment and income. Child labour is a socio-economic problem. It has been stated that, “Child Labour is no longer a medium of economic exploitation but is necessitated by economic necessity of the parents and in many Copyright © 2021, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

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cases that of the child himself”. Many children work outside their homes as domestic servants, cut off from friends and family. Economic Backwardness and Economic factors are stronger than socio-cultural factors responsible for perpetuation of child labour because most of the child labours belong to destitute families. As per ILO “Child means a person who has not completed his or her 15 years of age”, so, in this regard, under article 2(3) of International Labour Organization (ILO) 138 Convention, ‘Minimum Age for Admission to Employment’, the minimum age of admission into employment or work in any occupation “shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15” (ILO, 1973). On the other hand, UNICEF (1994) considers a child as, “A child is an individual under the age of 18 years based on the UN Conventions 1989 on the rights of the child, including the right to be protected from economic exploitation”. Therefore the concept of child labour exists throughout the world. Though children are the future, no one is so much serious about the problems of child labour. A number of organizations and also rules have been unveiled to stop the number of child labour and to bring them back to school. But still it is worthless, as we, the educated person are some extend responsible for promoting such type of heinous crime in our society. RATIONAL OF THE STUDY Despite of many rules and regulations against child labour, it has seen that children are working in hotels, industries, agricultural field etc. This type of barbarous practice puts the future of our country in darkness. Children in every society have always been taken as the greatest gift to humanity and childhood is an important stage of human development as it holds the potential to the future development of any society. Children who are brought up in an environment, which is helpful to their intellectual, physical and social development, go on to be responsible and productive part of the society. If we are to engage the children in to work when they are too young for the task, we are unduly reducing their present welfare or their future income earning capabilities, either by shrinking their future external choices or by reducing their future individual productive capabilities. Child labour restricts the right of children to access the benefits from education and denies the fundamental opportunity to attend school. Therefore, the investigator wants to know the attitude of educated persons’ towards child labour.

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REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Laskar (2000) published paper on “Child Labour in Aligarh Lock Industry” in ‘Economic and Political Weekly’. A survey of child labourers in the lock industry of Aligarh reveals that household economic pressures compel children to enter into low-wage, hazardous work Aggarwal (2004) published his paper on “Child Labour and Household Characteristics in Selected States Estimates from NSS 55th Round” in ‘Economic and Political Weekly’. There exists considerable variation in India in the age, sector and sex wise distribution of child labour. This paper delineates the magnitude of child labour and household characteristics in the four selected states of study. The analysis shows, among other things, that poverty and illiteracy have a bearing on child labour. A policy is needed to make education more meaningful and rewarding so that households are incentivised to send their children to school and keep them there. Measures aimed at poverty reduction and physical and social infrastructure development may also help reduce child labour. Lieten (2006) writes on “Child Labour: What Happened to the Worst Forms?” in ‘Economic and Political Weekly’. Child labour, for all the advocacy towards its abolition, remains a confusing social phenomenon. If child labour is to include all types of work done by children, even by children who otherwise go to school and assist in the household, the problem would indeed be on a massive scale. In 1999, the ILO agreed on a major policy priority: to tackle the worst forms of child labour first, in the form of Convention 182. Though the ILO stands by the importance of Convention 182, in practice, the impetus and focus appear to have been lost. Moreover, the statistics are ridden with encumbrances and there is a need for more evidence and a realistic approach. Mishra and Arora (2007) published a paper entitled “Domestic Child Labour” in ‘Indian Pediatrics’. An informal verbal survey was conducted by the authors, amongst doctor colleagues to determine the prevalence of domestic child labour in this important part of the middle class, which is expected to mirror the society’s social mores. Eighty-three doctors were surveyed of which 72 employed domestic servants and 61.1% of these employed children younger than 14 years of age. No association was observed between this practice and the medical specialty or work setting of the employer. A follow-up telephonic survey, after the enactment of the law prohibiting this practice, saw decreased participation and low prevalence of the practice.

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Akanksha Agarwal (2013) published an article “Child Labour in India” in ‘Indian Labour Journal’. According to UNICEF India has the highest population of child labour in the world. Through this paper the author has attempted to scale the pattern and magnitude of child labour in India by extracting the unit level data of 66th round of employment unemployment data. The paper also cited some evidences showing NSSO data is not sufficient to capture the real scenario of the child labour in India and suggested to design a national level survey exclusively devoted to investigate the characteristics of child labour in India so that a policy towards the elimination of child labour can be given a proper direction. George and Panda (2015) published “Child Labour Law Amendment: Applying the Brakes on Social Mobility” in ‘Economic and Political Weekly’. The proposed amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 hopes to align it with the Right to Education Act, 2009. It prohibits child labour up to 14 years and regulates the employment of children between the ages of 15 and 18 years. But the proviso that children can help in the family occupation after school hours or in the fields, home-based work, forest produce gathering or attend technical institutions during vacations, is bound to be misused. Besides, it will also lead to reinforcing the practice of caste-based occupations. Majumder and Das (2016) writes on “Securing Childhood: An Attempt To Regain The Lost World of Innocence from The Inhuman Practice of “Child Labour” In India” in ‘IOSR Journal of Humanities And Social Science’. Child is a symbol of innocence- is in a state of predicament due to the malpractice of ‘child-labour’ since ages. This paper tends to project the inherent problems related to the system of child-labour from both literally as well as literary point of view with reference to ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ poems by William Blake, and thereby suggests some possible remedies with a special emphasis on the physical and psychosocial development of the same. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Attitude of Educated Persons’ Towards Child Labour. OBJECTIVES 1. To find out the attitudes of educated person towards child labour. 2. To find out the significance of difference in attitude towards child labour between male and female educated persons. 3. To find out the significance of difference in attitude towards child labour between urban and rural educated persons. Copyright © 2021, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

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4. To study the significant difference in attitude towards child labour between self-employed and government-employed educated persons. HYPOTHESES 1. There exists no significance of difference in attitude towards child labour between male and female educated persons. 2. There exists no significance of difference in attitude towards child labour between urban and rural educated persons. 3. There exists no significance of difference in attitude towards child labour between selfemployed and government employed educated person. METHOD Descriptive survey method was adopted by the researcher. SAMPLE Eighty educated persons of Bhadrak district were selected using the technique of simple random sampling. The sample consists of 40 males and 40 females of Bhadrak district, out of which 45 were from urban and 35 from rural. A category of self- employed and govt. employed educated persons of 43 and 37 respectively were selected. TOOLS USED The investigator used Self-made Questionnaire tool for the purpose of data collection .The Self-made Questionnaire was a 5 point ATR scale as strongly agree, agree, cannot say, disagree and strongly disagree consisting of 40 items. STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES USED Data collected through the questionnaire were analyzed by using mean, SD and t-ratio. DATA ANALYSIS Table-4.1: Significance of difference between male and female educated persons’ attitude towards child labour Group

Mean

Male

159.35

11.26

Female

160.45

11.64

t-ratio

Level of significance

0.43

Not significant

It is revealed from the Table-4.1 that mean scores of male and female educated persons’ attitude towards child labour are 159.35 and 160.45 with SDs 11.26 and 11.64 Copyright © 2021, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

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respectively. The t- ratio out come from both the groups is 0.43 which is not significant or less then from the critical value t- ratio. That means there is no significant difference between male and female educated persons’ attitude towards child labour. Thus, the hypothesis-1 ‘there exists no significance difference between the attitude of male and female educated persons’ towards child labour is accepted. The mean scores male and female educated person presented in table 4.1 is also depicted in fig.1

160.5 160 mean

159.5

159 158.5 male

female

Fig-1 Mean scores of male and female educated person’s attitude towards child labour Table No -4.2: Significance of difference between urban and rural educated persons’ attitude towards child labour

Group

Urban Rural

Mean

161.33

10.56

160.57

12.27

t-ratio

Level of significance

0.29

Not significance

It is revealed from the Table-4.2 that Mean scores of Urban and Rural educated persons’ attitude towards child labour are 161.33 and 160.57 with SDs 10.56 and 12.27 respectively. The t- ratio out come from about both groups is 0.29 which is not significant or less than from the critical value t- ratio. That means there is no significant difference between urban and rural educated persons’ attitude towards child labour. Thus the hypothesis-2: there exists

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no significance difference between the attitude of Urban and rural educated persons’ towards child labour is accepted. The mean scores urban and rural educated person presented in table 4.2 is also depicted in fig.2 161.4 161.2 161 160.8

mean

160.6

160.4 160.2 160 urban

rural

Fig-2 Mean scores of urban and rural educated person’s attitude towards child labour Table No -4.3: Significance of difference between urban and rural educated persons’ attitude towards child labour Group

SelfEmployed Govt. Employed

Mean

159.45

11.58

160.64

t-ratio

Level of significance

0.45

Not significance

11.97

It is revealed from the Table-4.3 that mean scores of self-employed and govt. employed educated persons’ attitude towards child labour are 159.45 and 160.64 with SDs 11.58 and 11.97 respectively. The t- ratio out come from about both groups is 0.45 which is not significant or less then from the critical value t- ratio. That means there is no significant difference between self-employed and government–employed educated persons’ attitude towards child labour. Thus the hypothesis-1: there exists no significance difference between the attitude of self-employed and government-employed educated persons’ towards child labour is accepted.

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The mean scores urban and rural educated person presented in table 4.3 is also depicted in fig.3 160.8 160.6 160.4 160.2 160 159.8 159.6 159.4 159.2 159 158.8

mean

self-employed

governmentemployed

Fig-3 Mean scores of urban and rural educated person’s attitude towards child labour FINDINGS 

There is no significance of difference in attitude towards child labour between male and female educated persons.



There is no significance of difference in attitude towards child labour between urban and rural educated persons.



There is no significance of difference in attitude towards child labour between selfemployed and government-employed educated persons.

EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATION Every study provides some meaningful information and knowledge to the related field and this study also has some systematic and meaningful information. Study on child labour benefits to create awareness in society. As there is rapid increase in number of child labour system in our society it becomes a need for the society to stop this barbarous practice. This study helps us to gain knowledge about child labour, it informs us about the rules and regulations made against child labour. Through this research awareness can be created among educated persons who support such a heinous practice and can give us better understanding of the needs and rights of children. This study can also build understanding about suitable condition of work for a child which can save the child from hazardous situation of work. It Copyright © 2021, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

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can also bring the economic growth, respect for labour standards, universal education and social protection; this can also bring social transformation. Child labour is important for those whose parents are suffering from disease and cannot go to work and also for the Orphans. To survive their daily life they have to work somewhere. The man who appoints the child in some work should have knowledge about the rules and regulations of child labour Act. So that, he/ she can make the child work in some hygienic condition. He/ She can be able to offer those works which are according to the child’s ability. CONCLUSION In this study an attempt was made to view the attitude of educated persons towards child labour in Bhadrak District only. From the review of related literature we found that the maximum research findings about the child labourers are positive. They are not in favour of this social evil. Research has shown that still child labour exists in our society where children have to suffer in some unfavourable conditions. The result of research reveals that educated persons have a very positive attitude towards child labour. Every individual of our society should have knowledge about the rules and regulations of child labour act. All we need is the awareness among individuals of our society. But, in our society Eradication of child labour is not possible due to some problems . It may be due to some economical status of families, political and social problems, family related problems, which creates a hindrance in its path. Thus, study of attitude of educated persons towards child labour helps us to know how much effort we should put to eradicate child labour. REFERENCE Agarwal, A. (2013): Child Labour in India. Indian Labour Journal. 54(11) 1099-1105. Agarwal, Pramod Kumar and Pathak, Anil Chandra (2015): A Socio-economic Analysis of Child Labour in India. Lakshya: Journal of Science and Management. 1(1), 107-114. Aggarwal, Suresh Chand (2004): Child Labour and Household Characteristics in Selected States Estimates from NSS 55th Round. Economic and Political Weekly. 173-185. Anil Kumar (2011): State, Civil Society and the Eradication of Child Labour in Karnataka. Economic and Political Weekly. 46(3) , 23-25. Ansari, PA (2016): Rights of Children in India: Problem and Prospects. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development. 5(6) 48-52. Antony, Piush and Gayathri, V (2002): Child Labour: A Perspective of Locale and Context. Economic and Political Weekly. 5186-5189. Aparna Ravi (2000): Combating Child Labour with Labels: Case of Rugmark. Economic and Political Weekly. 1141-1147. Copyright © 2021, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

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Bachmann, C., & Brake, D., (2000), Labour structure and school Enrolments in Developing societies :Thailand and Kenya compared, Comparative Education Review, 44(2),175-204. Bachmann, C., (2000),Family structure, parental perceptions and child labour in kenya:What factors Determine who is enrolled in school?, social forces, 78(4),1349-1378. Barman, Bhupen and Barman, Nirmalendu (2014): A Study on Child Working Population in India. IOSR Journal Of Humanities and Social Science. 19(2) 01-05. Bhalotra, S.&Heady, C.,(2003),child farm labour :The wealth paradox, The world bank economic review, 17(2), 197-227. Bhattacharjee, Sharmistha (2014): Sophisticated Work Done by Children: Is Child Labour: An Overview of Children Working in Industries. IMPACT: International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Literature. 2 (6)45-52. Biggeri, Mario, et al (2009): Child Labour in Industrial Outworker Households in India. Economic and Political Weekly. 44(12) 47-56. Chanda, Patrick (2014): Impact of Child Domestic Labour on Children’s Education: A Case Study of Lusaka City in Zambia. European Scientific Journal. Special Issue. 179-188. Chandan&Barman, J., (2012),child labour & Inclusive Education in back ward districts of India, International Journal of Education, 4(4),685-698. Dev Nathan and Ann George (2012): Corporate Governance and Child Labour. Economic and Political Weekly. 47(50) 50-57. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research.3(1) 66-74. Dinesh, R and Belinda, R (2015): A Study on Ill Effects of Child Labour in India. Fatima Shanawaz (2016): Education Vs Child Labour. Global Journal for Research Analysis. 5 (3) 23-24. Fozia Fatima (2016): Comparative Analysis of National and International Approaches and Acuities of Child Labour Within UK, USA, India and Pakistan. American Journal of Educational Research. 4(18) 1271-1280. Ganesh, K. (2013),child labour : Determinants, Dimensions & Policies of India, Economic affairs, 58(4),429-435. GayathriUmapathy (2017): A Study on the Existence of Child Labour in India. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 22(8) 35-37. George, Alex and Panda, Sameet (2015): Child Labour Law Amendment: Applying the Brakes on Social Mobility. Economic and Political Weekly. 50 (38) 16-19 Jangir, Sunil Kumar (2013): Child Labour in India: Law, Policy and Program. International Journal of Science and Research.2(7)167-170. January, K.S.,(2013),Child labour in India :Law, policy and program, International Journal of science and research (IJSR), 58(2),.535-548. Jorge Gomez Paredes, et al (2016): An Assessment of Child Labour’s Role in Indian Production and Global Consumption. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 20(3) 611-622.