Child labour in India: a historical perspective

Background: Child labour is not a new phenomenon to our age, it has existed in one form or another in all historical times" children in India have been associated with work from time immemorial. The work they were asked to undertake used to provide them an opportunities for direct fulfilment of their natural abilities and creative potentialities and this was conducive to their healthy growth and development. The objective of the present paper are: (1) To describe the historical aspect of child labour in different era in India. (2) To analysis the global view on child labour The present paper represent an historical cum descriptive. It is to enquire in to the social phenomenon on with care i.e to scrutinize the existing material related to the phenomenon under investigation so as to gain new in sight into it. The literature of the paper were drawn a wide variety of secondary sources. The employment of children in India, in the form of slavery, was mentioned even in Kautilya's Arthashastra of 3rd Century B.C. in medieval period, children were normally placed as trainees under artisans and craftsmen certain crafts depends totally on the employment of children. In agrarian society, children work according to their capacities, and their work was always considered as a part and process of socialization under quasi – feudal relation of production, parents obligations were often involved all families working for land lords. In 18th Century industrial revolution in England, gave a new turn to the history of mankind it brought a change in the overall economic and social order. Which was for distinct them earlier period. After industrial revolution, the large number of children therefore was appointed by the millowners and later by factory owners. Secondly, the demand for child labour in 'agricultural' sector also increased due to the migration of adult men flok to industrial towns. The terms 'child labour' is at times used as a synonym for 'employed child' or 'working child' in this sense it is co-extensive with and work done by a child for economic gain. But more often them not, the term "child labour" in used is a social sense. It suggests some thing which is harmful, unjust and full of exploitation. The child labour (regulation and prohibition act, 1986) charactrised the child labour as a 'National challenge' or a national concern. We have taken up this challenge and the struggle is still in its infancy stage. The national child labour programme (NCLP) inaugurated in august 1987 was a step in the right direction. The international programme on elimination of child labour IPEC take our attention to the ultimate objective or any response to the problem of child labour.