Dhruvendra Lala¹* and Kavisha Kapoor Lalb²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Dr B R Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Mohali, Punjab, India
²Consultant, Department of Periodontics and Implantology (Dentistry), Sohana Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, India

*Corresponding Author: Dhruvendra Lal, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Dr B R Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Mohali, Punjab, India.

Received: April 29, 2025; Published: May 20, 2025

Abstract

Objectives: Child labour remains a pressing issue globally, with an estimated 160 million children engaged in work that deprives them of their childhood and development.

Case Description: De-fined as work that is hazardous, interferes with education, and harms physical and mental well-being, child labour affects children in various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and domestic work.

Discussion and Evaluation: In India, the situation is critical, with mil-lions of children involved in child labour, particularly in rural areas. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, later amended in 2016, and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, aim to combat this issue through legal frameworks that prohibit child labour and ensure free and compulsory education. Despite these efforts, challenges remain, as poverty, lack of awareness, and socio-cultural factors continue to perpetuate child labour. International initiatives, such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7, call for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour by 2025. In India, currently the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, aim to address child labour holistically by focusing on education and social empowerment along with legislations that prohibit child labour.

Conclusions: While progress has been made, a multi-dimensional approach involving legal measures, education, and community efforts is essential to fully eradicate child labour and safeguard children's rights. Strengthened collaboration among governments, organizations, and communities is crucial to ensuring every child’s right to a childhood free from exploitation.

Keywords: Child Labour; Education; Child Rights; India; Legal Frameworks; SDGs; Poverty; Child Protection

References

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4. Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. About child labour. New Delhi: Ministry of Labour and Employment (2025).
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10. Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. About child labour. Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India (2025).
11. Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986. Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India (2025).
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14. Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. National Child Labour Project (NCLP). Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India (2025).
15. Ministry of Education, Government of India. Samagra Shiksha. Ministry of Education, Government of India (2025).

Citation

Citation: Dhruvendra Lala and Kavisha Kapoor Lalb. “A Holistic Approach Towards Ending Child Labour and Ensuring Education and Protection for Every Child- Past, Present and Future".Acta Scientific Paediatrics 8.6 (2025): 07-10.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Dhruvendra Lala and Kavisha Kapoor Lalb. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.