Child Labor in Kashmir by Mir Aijaz

Child labor in Kashmir and its intensity in district Baramulla
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I (Aijaz Ahmad Mir) take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude

and deep regards to my guide Mr. Mudasir Naqshbandi for his exemplary
guidance, monitoring and constant encouragement throughout the course of
this thesis. The blessing, help and guidance given by him time to time shall carry
me a long way in the journey of life on which I am about to embark.
I would like to express the deepest appreciation to the coordinating team of

JKASW especially Miss Sumaira Gulzar who has the attitude and the substance
of a genius: she continually and convincingly conveyed a spirit of adventure in
regard to research and scholarship, and an excitement in regard to teaching.
Without her guidance and persistent help this dissertation would not have been
possible.
In addition I would like to thank Mr. Ashfaq Ahmad Matto the executive
director of JKASW who introduced me to Social work, and whose enthusiasm for
the “underlying structures” had lasting effect.
Mr. Aijaz Ahmad Mir

MSW, PGDRD
1
Evaluation report of “child labour in Kashmir and its Intensity in district

baramulla…… causes and possible remedies and a case study” (2016)
Index
s.no. Chapter Content Page no.
1. Chapter No. 1 Introduction about 4-14

Child labour
2. Chapter No. 2 Defining the research 15-19

problem and
Literature review
3. Chapter No. 3 Research 20-23

Methodology
4. Chapter No. 4 Data analysis and 24-45

interpretation/findings
5. Chapter no. 5 Conclusion and 46-48

suggestions/
recommendations
2
Chapter no. 1
Introduction about child labour
Child as an important entity:
Child is said to be the father of man and citizen of tomorrow. He is an important

asset of every nation. Every country aspires to this asset to grow into good
citizens. This can be achieved by providing all basic needs i-e food shelter,
clothing, training and education. Along with these they need love and affection,
but some children are deprived of these needs and they have to work to
supplement the income of the families, so that they could support and earn to
reduce the burden of rearing up the large families. However, the fact is that,
labor deprives children from educational opportunities, minimizing their chance
for vocational training and hampering in their physical, mental and social
development.
What is child labour?

Not all work done by children should be classified as child labour that is to be
targeted for elimination. Children’s or adolescents’ participation in work that
3
does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their
schooling, is generally regarded as being something positive. This includes
activities such as helping their parents around the home, assisting in a family
business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school
holidays. These kinds of activities contribute to children’s development and to
the welfare of their families; they provide them with skills and experience, and
help to prepare them to be productive members of society during their adult life.
The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their
childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and
mental development. It refers to work that:
 is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to
children; and
 interferes with their schooling:
 by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school;
 by obliging them to leave school prematurely; or
 By requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with
excessively long and heavy work.
In its most extreme forms, child labour involves children being enslaved,
separated from their families, exposed to serious hazards and illnesses and/or
left to fend for themselves on the streets of large cities – often at a very early
age.
Whether or not particular forms of “work” can be called “child labour” depends
on the child’s age, the type and hours of work performed, the conditions under
which it is performed and the objectives pursued by individual countries. The
answer varies from country to country, as well as among sectors within
countries.
Attitude towards child labour:-
There is a large group of critics that disapproves of child labour for a range of
reasons, including the following:
 allowing children to work means stealing their childhood from them;
 child labors are subject to economic exploitation because they are paid at
the lowest rates, and sometimes not at all;
 children often work under the worst conditions, which can cause physical
deformations and long-term health care problems;
4
 some child work can perpetuate poverty because child laborers, deprived
of education or healthy physical development, are likely to become adults
with low earnings prospects;
 children often replace adult labour; employers prefer them because they
are cheap and docile;
 the widespread use of child labour may result in lower wages for all
workers;
 Countries that allow child labour are able to lower their labour costs; thus
they attract investors and also benefit from “unfair trade” due to their low
production costs.
Child labor in international context/global context:
The problem of child labor is a global phenomenon and it is prevalent in almost all
the countries of the world. The problem is deep rooted in socio-economic
stratification, mass poverty and unemployment.(1:Agarwal Babita,P:88).As a
global phenomenon, ILO in 1996 estimated 250 million child labors economical
active all over the world. At least 120 million of them are working as full time
basis, while other 130 million are working as part time basis with schooling.50 to
60 million of them work in hazardous occupations in Malaysia, they are forced to
work in rubber plantation, being exposed to insect and snack bites, in Tanzania in
coffee gardens in hailing poisonous pesticides, In Portugal, children work in
dangerous, hazardous and exploitative constructions. Thousands of Pakistani
children are engaged in hazardous leather industries, like succor balls
manufacturing units. Even in developed countries like USA, children of most
immigrants are ethnic minority families; work in agriculture exposing themselves
pesticides spray daily. The urban centers of Latin America have the largest
population of street children in the world. Regionally, it is highest for Africa;
approximately 41% followed by Asia 22% and Latin America 13%.However, in the
absolute terms, most child workers 61% of the world’s total rate in India. In Asian
5
countries, economically active children are highly prevalent in Nepal followed by

Bangladesh (2: Mishra R.N.2003: Child labor in hazardous secretors, Discovery
publishing house, New Delhi. Page no.100)
The ILO documentary children in china, which was shown on several European
television channels focused in detail on exploitation of the children in the United
States, Russia, India, and Indonesia &Columbia and among other countries. More
than 50,000 children in the US are forced to work on farms in California. Most of
these children are Mexican and they lack even the most rudimentary social &
health care. The documentary reveals that there are 3000 children working
illegally in the Columbian mines, North of Boyacá. Swami Agnivesh also claimed
that in the documentary, there are more than 55million child labors in India. A
report was published in August 1993 by the special reporter of the united nation
Human Rights Commission, that Texas lawyer was selling children as prostitutes
for 11,000 dollars a child .The los Angeles times dated September, 7, 1992,
revealed that more than 3000 children have been kidnapped from US hospitals
&sent abroad.
The declaration of rights of child adopted by UN general assembly 20th November

1959 proclaims to give the child the best it has to give .These rights to adequate
nutrition and medical care, free and compulsory education, full opportunity to play
and recreation.(3 :ibid ,third concept,P1) The war against child labor has acquired
a new dimension with the international labor organization launching a global
offensive in the form of an international programme for elimination of child
labor(IPEC).Though, if the ILO is trying to boost national level developmental
activities for all countries of the world, all of which have direct bearing on
prevention, removal protection or rehabilitation of the child workers. In February
1993,the united nations human rights commission(UNHRC) and ILO reported that
some 200 million children worldwide exploited, solid and forced into prostitution.
6
Child labor in Prone Areas:
Today children are required to work individually without being given a personnel
and paternalistic guidance that they used to get in earlier times while working in
family undertakings. These days they perform various kinds of jobs in different
work places. Following are some areas where children are employed in a very
large number:
Children in agriculture:
This is the sector which provides employment to the highest number of children.
About 5 core children work in the farms; here children get employment only during
harvest season. In this sector, children often get infected through exposure of
biological and chemical agents. Children can be seen in applying fertilizers and
other chemicals, some of which are highly toxic links to an increase of cancer,
neuropathy and immune system abnormalities.
Child labor in match industry:
Fire work and match making is another prone area which has earned notoriety for
employing children under hazardous conditions. Match industry in Savakis is
prominent for employing children. There are more than 80000 children working.
These children usually play with five every minute and suffer from intense
heat(4:Wiener Myron ED-1998,The child and the state in India, Manzar khan
publishers, oxford university press, Jai Singh road, New Delhi. Page no.23)
Child labor in Mining:-
Child labor is also used in small scale mines in many countries. Child miners work
long hours without adequate protective equipments, clothing and training. They
are also exposed to high humidity and extreme temperature.
7
Mining hazardous include exposure to harmful dusts, grasses and

fumes.Bihar,Rajasthan,Orrisa and Tamil Nadu are some of the prone areas where
children work in coal mines(5:M.L.Narasahiah 2003:Child labor and agriculture,
Discovery publishing house, New Delhi Page no:12,13)
Child labor in Carpet industry:
Carpet industries attract employment of children in a very large number. In

viewing, children are most efficient than adults. In Jammu and Kashmir, 80000
children are working in carpet industries and 90% of them are bonded labors. In
addition to Jammu and Kashmir, Meerut and Agra of UP, Jaipur, and Bikaner of
Rajasthan are other centers for carpet viewing (6:www.greater Kashmir.com/full
story.asp).
Child labor in glass industries:
Child labor is also prevalent in glass industries. A large number of children work at
Firozabad glass industries in UP. These industries have earned a bad name for
employing innocents who are exposed to most serious health problems. According
to an estimate, there are nearly 1200 glass units in Firozabad, employing 20,000
child labors (7: Shukla sarwan 1994; Times of India, childhood goes up in the
smoke in land of glass. November 19)
Child labor in plantation:
In Plantation industries, children are used for work at very early age with meager
wages. In Darjeeling of West Bengal and some areas of Assam where thousands of
children’s work in tea and coffee plantation .According to the report ,nearly about
50,000 to 1,25,000 children plucking tea leaves (8:Times of India :1995 to 50,000
children worked in tea gardens -report June 28)
8
Child labor in India:
Child labor in India is a human right issue for the whole world .It is serious and
extensive problem, with many children under the age of 14 years working in
carpet making factories, Glass bowing units and making fire works with bare little
hands .According to the statistics give by Indian Govt. there are 20 million child
labors in country, while other agencies claim that it is 50 million.
In India, the problem of child labor is infact catastrophic .Today the country is
having the world’s largest number of child labor .According to UN estimate, of
every three worlds working children, one is from India. Children of various groups
have been employed in various industries, hotels, automobile workshops and
other institutions on account of socio –economic problem .Independent and
fundamental rights have no meaning to them at a young age, they are driven to
work in difficult and vulnerable fields, simply to sustain their own lives and that of
the family, which entirely depends upon them (8: Mehta P.L 2006 –child labor
and the laws, deep and deep publications, New Delhi, Page no.1)
Child labor in Jammu and Kashmir:-
Kashmir valley, like other parts of the globe, is also beset by the problem of child
labour and child servitude. Though this problem is very grave in the valley but it
is not being felt with such intensity as is the case with many other parts of India
and the world. The reason being the position of its landscape with a clumsy
topography, coupled with hardships of climatic conditions which throw into
oblivion the ugly state of affairs of many children working in hazardous and
non-hazardous jobs in the valley. Kashmir is inhabited by different races that
put up on hill tops and hard-to-reach places. The valley being a part of Jammu
and Kashmir (Special Category State) is inhabited by poor people, some of whom
are living even below poverty line within scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and
other backward categories. Lack of adequate and proper educational facilities,
difficult monitoring and enforcement of law, rampant poverty has lead to high
incidence of child labour with impunity. The development of cottage level
9
industries in the shape of famous handicrafts of Kashmir have found favour

among local people due to the fact that these can be practiced in any nook and
comer of the valley and people need not to go outside every day for a livelihood
which is very difficult and even sometimes impossible due to long and difficult
terrain between remote and urban/town areas.
The situation gets even worsened when weather behaves its own way and many
areas remain decayed with snow for nearly half of the year. There are even such
areas in Kashmir where up and down journeys to hilly areas are to be
undertaken with the help of ponies. The problem of child labour under such
circumstances becomes a matter of serious concern as no law can guarantee the
children of these areas a right to enjoy themselves with their childhood by dint of
the fact that enforcement machinery cannot discharge its responsibilities in
letter and spirit. The state of affairs is very alarming as it is even worse than the
close confines of domestic labour. The children in these cottage level industries
are not immune from dangerous effects of these trades. Carpet weaving is
rightly held as a hazardous job deforming body structure of workers making
them weak and invalid. Research studies reveal that in carpet industry alone we
have nearly 25% child laborers (Mir1991). The job of carpet weaving is quite
hazardous having an adverse effect on the health of children. A study conducted
by UNICEF in carpet industry in Iran in 1981 reveals that girls in carpet industry
of Iran, worked in doubled up postures and squatting planks, this leads to
deformities in lower limbs. Due to poor illumination and fineness of the work
there is blurring of vision also. Another study titled
“Health status of school age children employed in carpet weaving in Ganderbal
Block of Srinagar” reveals that ‘school going children have better hemoglobin
than carpet weaving children. Majority of children complain of head ache,
blurring of vision, backache and abdominal pain.’ The shawl and chain stitch
embroidery also blurres the vision of workers. Forced economic necessity has
caught many children in domestic labour where they are being oppressed and
suppressed by the well-to-do oblivious of the public eye, labour inspection and
media attention. These children are separated from their families at the cost of
affection of their parents and relatives, which they deserve and also need.
Contrarily, they are put to a work environment where they are treated as
inferior lot and supposed to obey the dictates of their masters and work even if it
exceeds their physical and mental capacity. These children sleep late and wake
10
up early in the morning to dredge for the household and to provide comfort to
the children of superior fathers. Devoid of affection, these children feel that they
have fallen from sky unto earth and are not born to enjoy the affection of elders
and the sweet moments of life. This state of mind which is opposed to principle of
natural justice and equity accompanies them throughout their life.
Even in areas which are in the neighborhood of the power centers of
Government of Jammu and Kashmir, the children are working in automobile
units, restaurants, and the worst of all being trash collecting. The trash
collecting children seen on the roadsides of Kashmir valley are generally
migrant laborers and hail from families which come from outside the valley and
settle here temporarily for a few months every year.
The child labour in Kashmir is likely to increase in future times to come as
Government is striving every nerve to multiply the cottage level handicrafts
units in the State. The Government has launched various incentive schemes for
establishment of cottage and tiny units and there are apprehensions that with
every increase in the number of these units, the number of child workers may
increase because handicrafts sector, as according to labour survey of selected
areas (1993), employs more than 90% of the child workers in Kashmir. The
cause of concern being that handicrafts units are spread over the entire State
including inaccessible areas and the areas difficult-to-reach for any inspection
by the law enforcement agencies and the nongovernmental organizations. The
handicrafts sector in the valley thrives on the labour of these tender hands and
that is why the General Manager of Handlooms and Handicrafts Corporation has
gone on record opposing a ban on child labour in the carpet industry as
according to him “it would be suicidal for the carpet industry” (Lolika 1986
quoting Patel)
A selected districts research report prepared by a UK based NGO “Save the
Children” in collaboration with Srinagar based NGO “Better World” reveals that
There are 22000 child laborers in Srinagar and Budgam districts only facing
long list of health problems. The children working in carpet industries confront
lack of basic amenities, wage disparities on the basis of sex, absence of definite
wage structure and six day working week. Nearly 80% of them suffer from
myopia and retinal detachment due to constant eye strain. The children are also
vulnerable to throat infection, joint pains and headache. According to the study,
more than 3000 children working in automobile sector in Srinagar and Budgam
11
districts faced immediate and long term implications including accidents, cuts
and bums, chronic bronchitis, chest pain, cough, dysphasia and bacterial
endocarditic.
Many children are thus entrapped in hazardous occupations. In 1997, the State
Government admitted that about 24000 child laborers are working in
hazardous conditions in Kashmir valley. One more cause for increase in child
labour in Kashmir is the prevailing strife in the valley. The ongoing armed
struggle in the valley with political background has snatched patronage of many
children making them orphans and increasing the number of widows with
resultant increase in the number of households with female headship. The loss of
breadwinners is bound to compel the children of such families to adopt menial
occupations for subsistence and survival of the families.
The natural calamities also bear an impact to force the children to work. The
devastating earthquake which struck the Kashmir valley on October 8, 2005
with 7.6 measurements on the Richter scale and epic centre in Muzaffarbad
(POK) made many children as orphans and thousands of families destitute for
food, clothing and shelter which may force the children of such families to work
even under inhospitable conditions. In fact children in quake-hit areas have
started looking for work to overcome the crises they are confronted with after
they lost their home and hearth.
An international report jointly prepared by the World Bank and Asian
Development Bank (2005) reveals that the earth quake has left the large
number of unattended children and women who are vulnerable to exploitation.
“Unattended children constitute a group which will require special protection
immediately and continuing in the medium and long term particularly to help
them overcome trauma and prevent exploitation” the report says.
The report further suggests about raising awareness and training on child rights
and child protection, targeting all concerned actors given the fact that the single
headed households led by widows without any male support in the quake hit
areas is bound to increase.
Rights of children vis-a-vis J&K Constitution.

The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir has provided for the educational rights
of children and their protection against unpleasant work situations.
12
Article 20 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir 1957 provides that the
State shall Endeavour:
Socio-Economic and Ethical Dimensions of Child Labour in Kashmir
68
a) To secure to every permanent resident the right to free education up to the
university standard;
b) To provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this
constitution, compulsory education for all children until they complete the age
of fourteen years and
c) To ensure to all workers and employees adequate facilities for adult
education and part time technical, professional and vocational courses.
Under Article 21 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, the State shall have
to strive to secure...
a) To all children the right to happy childhood with adequate medical care and
attention; and
b) To all children and youth equal opportunities in education and employment,
protection against exploitation and against moral or material abandonment.
The above constitutional directives to the State are in consonance with
the provisions in the Constitution of India and also judicial precedents which
seek to protect children against exploitation in view of their docile nature. In
M.C. Mehta v State of Tamil Nadu (1991) it was provided that children should
not be employed in hazardous jobs in factories for manufacture of match boxes
and fireworks and possible steps should be taken for the welfare of such children
as well as for improving the quality of their life. Providing for child education is
a step which goes far beyond than mere providing for regulation of working
conditions of children once they are employed.
Magnitude and Concentration of Child Labor in Jammu and
Kashmir:
The child labor in Kashmir is a cause of concern for the government and the
social set up of Kashmir. Like other States, the State of J&K is also beset with the
problem of child labor in view of its unique geographic features and other
peculiarities. According to 1981 population census, the State of Jammu and
Kashmir had highest number of child workers.
Source: “Rehabilitation of child laborers in India’
13
The census figures of 2001 indicate that there are 1, 75,630 children
economically active in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. This includes all the
children working under family set up arrangement. The State comprises of 6652
villages and 68 urban areas which means that on an average there are 26
children working in hazardous and non hazardous jobs per village/urban area.
A relevant study has revealed that 43% of total children in the age group of 6-14
years in Jammu and Kashmir are engaged in various labor activities.
Both the above figures come into question in the light of following facts and
Figures:
Total child population in the age group of 5-14 in
Jammu and Kashmir as per 2001 census..................... 26, 53,422
Total enrolment in primary and middle schools as in the year 2001-02

.............................................. 14, 52,300
Nowhere and working children in Kashmir..................12, 01,122
The figure of child labor in Jammu and Kashmir is increasing day by day and
present surveys reveal that it is the highest no. of child labors is found in district
Baramulla of Kashmir division of Jammu and Kashmir with majority of those
employed in handicraft sector.
Statement of problem:-
In Jammu and Kashmir the intensity of child labor is severe and in district
Baramulla the situation is grave compared to other districts of the state. So it
becomes important to study why the district stands first in the incidences of child
labor and what are the various pulling and pushing factors of child labor in
Baramulla.
14
Chapter no:-2
Literature review
Various studies on child labor have been conducted either at the national level,
regional level or industry wise. The educational institutions, governmental and
non -governmental organizations have undertaken projects on child labor. Looking
at this problem, it seems multidimensional and acute social problem. A number of
scholars, planners, researchers and others have analyzed it from different angles.
Their main findings have been discussed and reviewed in the following
paragraphs.
Dr.Tripathy (1991) has studied the problem of child labor in Kandhamal district of
Orissa from historical point of view with the help of random sampling, interview
questionnaire method, the study conducted in three villages of district brought to
light the indebtedness and poverty of families are the factors leading to
employment of children in shops and commercial establishments. Indebtedness
has become an economic inevitably and child labor and way of life to many rural
households. Employment of children is an extensive in agriculture, constructions,
projects, bamboo forest operations and so on. The uncertain conditions of
drought, indebtedness and landlessness have contributed in the emerge of child
labor in this district. He concluded that decline in agriculture production, large
scale transfer of land to non tribal’s, frequent failure of crops etc. entangle the
tribal’s in the web of misery. The remedial measures of this problem are found in
article 338 and article 46, which are made especially for tribal’s. These articles
would look after their welfare activities and protect their economic and
educational interests(10:Tripathy S.N.1991,exploitation of child labor in Tribal
India,Daya Publishing House, New Delhi).
Mohammad Mustafa and Omkar-Sharma (1966) focused child apart from poverty
and low occupational status of parents. They assume that poverty is a second
15
cause for persistence of child labor. They also concluded that inadequacy of
legislative system as well as its insufficient enforcement is the main reason. Many
of the employs prefer to employ children than the adults for maximum benefits.
Some of the parents feel the job disciplines of the children and protects them from
vagrancy and delinquently. Thus, it is concluded, emphasis should be laid down for
plan of action to remove ignorance and economic backwardness of the parents
(11: Mustafa Mohammad and Omkar, 1996: child labor in India-a better truth,
Deep and deep publications, New Delhi)
Lakshmidhar Mishra’s study on child labor in India ,2005 analyses the oppressive
reality of Indian Laboring children and provides full macro perspective on the
nature and scale of the problem as well as what this problem means in human and
economic terms. The other criticizes constitutional and legal provisions on the
subject and concluded that national policy programmes for safety of children have
been in effective. Moreover, this the role of NGO’s, trade union organizations and
media has to some extent to control the child labor menace. Same is the case with
the present problem of Interventional districts of organization, where the
concerned authorities are watching everything as a silent spectators and doing
nothing to curb the child labor menace. They should act as safeguards of the
future of our generation
(12: Mishra Laxmidhar, 2000: Child Labor in India-Oxford University press, New
Delhi)
Bilal Ahmad Bhat studied child labor and their problems in different industries like
child labor in lock making industry of Aligarh, gun polishing in Jaipur, children
working in brassware traditional crafts. The author has analyzed gender
differential and concluded that the condition of work and living are different.
There is sex typing work. The common conclusions drawn from industries revealed
that the poverty is the main cause for prevalence of child labor, so free and
16
compulsory education according to article 45 will help in elimination of child labor.

It is also suggested that there should be total ban on employment of children
below the age of 14 years, rather than drawing distinction between hazardous
industries and varying the age of employment. This variation creates loopholes for
employment against the laws. Hence media coverage for awareness and support
from voluntary organization can also help to check this evil (13: Kashmir Insight-
December 2008, vol.1, page27, 29 and 30.)
Ashfaq Hussain Mohammad (1987) attempted to study exploitation of women

and child labor in cigarette making industry in Samserjung, pointed that the
conditions of work in cigarette making industry are pretty bab. The children work
in dark, dingy places for long hours resulting in bad health and under
nourishment. The study further indicated that each women and child labor is
supposed to make a fixed quantum of cigarette and bidi daily, so they work on and
on, from dawn to midnight in the flickering light of the Kerosene lamp which is
very harmful to their eyes.
An important finding of the study was that women and child workers engaged in
bidi and cigarette rolling live in the shadow of low wages, reduced wages, and
fear of treatment, rejection of their assigned works and long hours of work. The
study clearly indicated that illiteracy and ignorance of these workers is a bone to
the expletive contractors and bidi manufactures. The study revealed that the
physical and mental conditions of the working children are vulnerable. As a
compulsory measure measures for health and undernourishment of the children is
that all programmes for education meant for child labor should go side by side
with nutrition, health care and social welfare as a package within
ICDS.(14:Hussain Mohammad Ashfaq,1987:Exploitation of women and child labor
in Bidi industry in Samsargunj and child workers in Asia,October-December-
1987:Vol-3,4,P 8)
17
Statewide distribution of working children according to 1981, 1991 and 2001

census in the age group of 5 to 14 years:
S.no Name of the State & UT 1981 1991 2001

01 Andhra Pradesh 1951312 1661940 1363339
02 Assam *** 327598 351416
03 Bihar 1101764 942245 1117500
04 Gujarat 616913 523585 485530
05 Haryana 194189 109691 253491
06 Himachal Pradesh 99624 56438 107774
07 Jammu Kashmir 258437 ***** 175630
08 Karnataka 1131530 976247 822615
09 Kerala 92854 34800 26156
10 Madhya Pradesh 1698597 1352563 1065259
11 Maharashtra 1557756 1068427 764075
12 Chandigarh **** ***** 364572
13 Manipur 20217 16493 28836
14 Meghalaya 44916 34633 53940
15 Jharkhand ***** ***** 407200
16 Uttaranchal ***** ***** 70183
17 Nagaland 16235 16467 45874
18 Orissa 702293 452394 377594
19 Punjab 216939 142868 177268
20 Rajasthan 819605 774199 1262570
21 Skim 8561 5598 16457
22 Tamil Naidu 975055 578889 418801
23 Tripura 24204 16478 21756
24 Utter Pradesh 1434675 1410086 1927997
25 West Bengal 605253 711691 857087
26 Andaman and Nicobar 1309 1265 1960
27 Arunachal Pradesh 17950 12395 18482
28 Chandigarh 1986 1870 3779
18
Note: ***** “census could not be conducted due to some reasons”
Distribution of working children is not equal in all states of India. State wise
distribution of working children in the last two decades in the age group of 5 to 14
is shown in the table. According to 1981 census, workers in the age group below
14 years excluding Assam were 13.64 million, while as according to 1991 census
11.28 million children in the age group of 5 to 14 are employed in our country
while as on 1st march 2001, the number of children involved in working force are
10.28 million (9: Ibid, Agarwal Babita, page: 90, 91)
Situation of child labor is desperate. Children work for eight hours at a stretch,
with only a small break of meals. Most of the migrant children, who cannot go
home, sleep at their work place, which is bad for their health and
development.75% of the Indian population still resides in rural areas and are very
poor. Children in rural families who are ailing with poverty perceive their children
as an income generating resource to supplement the family income. Parents
sacrifice their children’s education to the growing needs of their younger siblings
in such families and view them as wage earners for the entire clan.
19
Chapter no: - 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Defining the research problem
Different researches carried out in the state of Jammu and Kashmir reflected that
the district of Baramulla is having the highest no. of child labors in Kashmir
division. But the no. of researches conducted in this field is very minimal. Hence
the research problem of my project is titled as “child labor in Kashmir and its
intensity in district Baramulla….causes and possible remedies and a case study.”
Research design
Research methodology involves means and methods of conducting the research. It

includes the procedure used in data collection and analysis.
Quantitative method was applied in order to obtain a holistic insight into the
objectives of this study. This study adopted quantitative techniques using the
survey method. The survey was carried out by using interview schedule which
targeted the child labors. An interview schedule was administered and the
respondents were asked the relevant questions. The questions were asked in
simple and easy-to-understand language considering that the respondents were of
all the age groups both literate and illiterate. The answers were immediately
marked on the interview schedule. This was done so that no details escape the
mind. Local language namely Kashmiri and Urdu were used for communicating
with the targeted population.
Research site
The research site was selected on the basis of occupation of child labors like looms
(carpet and shawl), grazing fields, homes (sibling care, domestic chores, needle
20
work, poultry etc), and banks of rivers (for fishing, sand drenching and chestnut
collection)
Data were collected using interview schedule. The respondents were approached
at their work places and first hand information was collected from them through a
pre framed interview schedule. Total numbers of 26 questions were framed for the
questionnaires in which all the …respondents were interviewed individually and
therefore the same were analyzed for analysis
Objectives of the study
1. To understand the issue of child labor in general and in particular at district

Baramulla selected villages Gund Ibrahim, Om-buran, Gohal tengpora, k.p
payeen, Matipora, Armpora, chek Jamal Mir, Ghaat Gopalan, kralpora and
Khaipobala.
2. Analyze the socio-economic dimensions /aspects of families of the child
labor.
3. To identify and analyze the factors (pull and push) responsible for the
problem of child labor in baramulla.
4. To identify possible remedial measures in order to address the problem of
child labor
Universe of study
The universe of study in my research is 10 villages of district baramulla that fall

under three blocks and 3 tehsils of district baramulla, i.e., Gund Ibrahim, k.p
payeen, om-buran, Chek Jamal Mir, ghaat gopalan, matipora, Aarmpora,
khaipobala, kralpora and Gohal tengpora. These villages were selected as a unit of
study as the no. of child labour and out of school children are high in these
villages.
21
s.no. Name of village Block Tehsil
1. Gund Ibrahim Singpora Pattan

2. K.p Payeen Singpora Pattan
3. Om-buran Singpora Pattan
4. Chek Jamal Mir pattan Pattan
5. Ghaat Gopalan Pattan Pattan
6. Matipora Singpora Pattan
7. Aarmpora Singpora Pattan
8. Khaipobala Khaipora Tangmarg
9. Gohal Tengpora Pattan Pattan
10. Kralpora Batpora Kunzer
Sampling:-
The sampling method selected in this research is snowball sampling under non-
probability sampling method. This method was selected on the basis that once we
met one child labour in a village and through him we will get to know about other
child labors and this will go on till we met all the child labors.
Sampling size:-
All the child labors in the age group of 6-14 years in 10 villages of Baramulla will
be the sample size of my research.
TOOLS FOR COLLECTION OF DATA:
For the purpose of collection of data, I applied the following tools of data
collection;
 Interview schedule.
 Observation.
22
sInterview schedule:
Interview schedule is one of the important and powerful tools for the data
collection in social research. In an interview schedule, an interviewer presents the
questions of the schedule to the interviewee and records their responses on blank
spaces. It is a direct method of enquiry. It has the following features:
1. The researcher i.e. the interviewer can analyze the feelings of respondent
group.
2. Response of the respondent group is received quickly.
3. In an interview schedule there is clarity of responses and identity of
respondent due to direct personal contact of the interviewee and the
interviewer.
Observation:
Observation means accurate watching, knowing phenomena as they occur in

nature. It is carried out with the help of the eye, and the purpose and the aim of
the observation is to discover significant mutual relations between spontaneously
occurring events and thereby pinpoint crucial facts of a situation. It is based on
the following features:
 Observation, an affair of eyes and ears:

Observation is done through the eyes and ears. It is the application of eyes and
ears in order to understand a particular phenomenon.
 Definite aim:
Observation has a definite aim. Before one can observe anything he/she has to
clear about the aim and the purpose of observation because aimless observation
is of no use.
 Planning:
23
Besides being purposeful, observation needs to be well organized and systematic

effort.
 Noting:
All the impressions of observation should be noted down immediately because
the human memory cannot remember exactly all the happenings.
24
Chapter:-4
Data analysis and interpretation /findings
After collecting raw data from the child laborers, the data was scrutinized and
only completed/ valid data was analyzed. The valid data was analyzed with the
help of percentage/ frequency test. The results are given in this chapter in both
forms interpreted and numerical form.
Respondent profile
 In this study 48% males and 52% females participated.

 8% of the respondents were in the age group of 6-9 yrs, 17.611% of the
respondents were in the age group of 9- 12 yrs, 32.995% of child labors
were in the age group of 12-14 yrs and 41.29% of children were in the age
group of 14-18 yrs.
 11.13% of children were involved in carpet weaving with a high no. of
females, i.e. 40 females and 15 males. The highest percentages of children
are involved in Pashmina weaving constituting 29 % of child labors, i.e. 52
males and 91 males. 16.6% of child labors are involved in needle work
consisting of only females, i.e., 82 females.17.813% of child labors are
involved in casual labor consisting of only male population of child labors,
i.e., 88 males. 25.5 % of child labors are involved in other forms of child
labor like sibling care, cattle grazing, domestic servants, hotel waiters,
sand collectors etc.
 The influence of joint family is still [prevalent in the villages as only 355 of
child labor reside in nuclear families while as 655 of child labour4s reside
in joint families.
 The size of families of child labors under study is mostly lager as almost 58
% of child labors are living in families with more than 6 family members.8
% of child labors reside in families with 4 family members.11% of child
25
labors reside in 5 member families and 23% of child labors reside in 6

member families.
 49% of child labors have more than 3 siblings while as 8% of child labors
have only 1 sibling.11% of child labors have 2 siblings and 32% of child
labors have 3 siblings.
 The table below clearly reflects that child labors come from poor families
as majority of the labors almost 43% reside in Kutcha houses while as 7%
of children reside in pucca houses. 42% of child labors reside in semi-
pucca houses and 8% resides in tin sheds. Even some child labors live in
semi- pucca houses but those houses were without doors and windows.
Table A
S.no. Question Answers Percentage
1. Gender a) Male 48%

b) Female 52%
2. Age a) 6-9 yrs 8.097%

b) 9-12 yrs 17.611%
c) 12-14 yrs 32.995%
d) 14-18 yrs 41.2955%
3. Child occupation a) Carpet 11.13%

weaving
b) Pashmina 28.95%
weaving
c) Needle work 16.6%
d) Casual labor 17.813%
e) Any other 25.5%
occupation
4. Type of family a) Nuclear 35%
26
b) Joint 65%
5. Total family members a) 4 8%

b) 5 11%
c) 6 23%
d) Any other…if 58%
specify the
no…….
6. No. of siblings a) 1 8%
b) 2 11%
c) 3 32%
d) If more than 49%
three specify
the no…..
7. Type of house a) Pucca house 7%

b) Kutcha house 43%
c) Semi pucca 42%
house
d) Tin shed 8%
c) Any other type 0%
specify………
Total no. of 494

respondents Male=239
Female=255
27
Socio-economic profile of the respondent
 The source of income to almost all the families of target groups was father,
siblings and the respondents, i.e., 40%.while as, mothers were the source of
income to 5% of the families and 15% of families depend on land for their
survival along with the respondent’s income that supplements the
purchasing power of the families.
 Mostly the fathers of child labors are involved ion farming contributing 40%
of the total interviewed target group. 275 were involved in carpet weaving,
105 in Pashmina weaving, 20% in casual labour and 3% in other
occupations.
 Mostly the mother’s of child labors are involved in domestic chores
constituting 58% of the target group. 35% of mothers of the target group
were involved in needle in needle work.0%in Pashmina weaving and 5% in
carpet weaving and 23% in other occupations like poultry farming, firewood
collection and chestnut collection.
 The monthly income of families is highest in above 5000 group consisting of
43% of the families of target group. While as 38% of the families fall in the
category of 3000-5000 category. Only 19% of the families of child labors
have income above Rs 10000. It means that almost all the targeted families
have low purchasing power because their income is not sufficient.
 Mostly the child labors spend their earning on meeting the daily needs of
family with minimal expenditure on savings. 805 of the child labors spend
their earnings on family budget, 5 % spend on personal need, 5% on bank
savings and 10% on family savings.
 Children start working mostly in the age group from 9-14yrs. About 42% of
children start working from the age of 12-14yrs , 35% start working from
the age of 9-12ysr, 19% of children start working from 8 yrs age onwards.
28
Only 3% of children started working from 14 yr age onwards and 1% of

children from the age of 5 yrs.
 78% of the interviewed child labors siblings are in the school going age but
only 42% of them are school going.
 68% of the siblings of child labors are out of school and all are involved in
some form of child labour.
8. Source of income to a) Father 40%

family b) mother 5%
c) land 15%
d) siblings & respondent 40%
e) any other
9. Father’s occupation a) Carpet weaving 27%

b) Pashmina weaving 10%
c) Farming 40%
d) Casual labor 20%
e) Any other 3%
10. Mother’s a) Carpet weaving 5%
occupation b) Pashmina weaving 0%
c) Needle work 35%
d) Domestic chores 58%
e) Any other 2%
11. Child’s monthly a) Below 3000 30%

income b) 3000-5000 20%
c) 5000-7000 30%
d) 7000-10000 20%
e) Other than above 0%
specify
12. Monthly income of a) 3000-5000 38%
29
family b) Above 5000 43%

c) Above 10000 19%
d) Other than above 0%
specify……..
13. What did you do a) Spend on personal 5%

with your earnings? needs
b) Contribution in 80%
family budget
c) Bank savings 5%
d) Family savings 10%
e) Any other 0%
specify………
14. At what age did a) Above 5 yrs 1%

you started b) 8-9yrs 19%
working c) 9-12yrs 35%
d) 12-14yrs 42%
e) Above 14 yrs 3%
15. No. of siblings in a) All 78%

school going age b) If not specify the 22%
no………
16. No of siblings a) All 42%

school going b) If not specify the 58%
no…….
17. No. of siblings out a) All 68%

of school b) If not specify the 32%
no…….
18. Siblings involved in a) All 68%
30
child labor b) If not specify the 32%

no…….
Total no. of respondents Total=494
Male=239
Female=255
Detail for dropping education or for not attending school

 Majority of children involved in child labour are school drop outs
consisting of 74% of the interviewed child labors and only 26% of
children are never been to school.
 Majority of children almost 60% dropped education before completing
middle class, 30% dropped education in upper primary classes and 10%
dropped education in lower primary level.
 Most of the children dropped education due to disinterest in studies but
the point is here that how disinterest in studies developed among
children. It is the poor quality of education and illiteracy and ignorance
of parents that creates disinterest among children in regard to
studies.31% of children dropped education due to poverty, 28% due to
illiteracy and ignorance of parents, 34% of children dropped education
due to disinterest in studies and 7% due to corporal punishment.
 90% of children were dissatisfied with the infrastructure and PTR of
their schools and only 10% of children were satisfied with the same.
 Majority of the child labors were dissatisfied with the teachers of their
last attended schools consisting of 565 % while as 45% of children were
satisfied with their teachers.79% of child labors revealed that their
schools were inaccessible to them and only 21% children said that their
schools were accessible.
 65% of child labors revealed that their families support their decisions
and the rest of child labors said that their families are authoritative and
does not support them in their decisions.
31
19. Have you ever been to a) Yes 74%

school? b) No 26%
20. class in which dropped a) lower primary 10%

education b) upper primary 30%
c) middle 60%
secondary
21. Reason for dropping a) poverty 31%
education b) illiteracy and 28%
ignorance of
parents
c) disinterest in 34%
studies
d) corporal 7%
punishment
any other
22. Were you satisfied with a) yes 10%
the infrastructure of b) no 90%
your school?

the PTR of your school? b) no 90%

the teachers of your b) no 55%
school?
25. Was your school a) yes 21%

accessible to you? b) no 79%
26. Does your family a) Yes 35%
32
support you in yourself b) No 65%

decisions?
Total no. of Total=494

Female=255
Aims and aspirations of child labors

 Majority of the child labors were having the aim of becoming government
employees, 23 % were having the aim of establishing their own business
units and 22% of children were aimless in their lives.
 85% of child labors are dissatisfied with their lives while as only 15% of child
labors are satisfied with their lives.
 63% of children have dreams in their life while as 37% of children are
without any dream in their life.
 92% of child labors do not want same life of their for their siblings while as
only 8% want the same life for their siblings.
27. What was your aim in a) Self employed 23%

life? b) Govt. 65%
employed
c) Nothing 22%
28. Are you satisfied in your a) Yes 15%
life? b) No 85%
29. Do you have any dream A) Yes 63%

for your life? B) No 37%
C) If yes
33
specify……..
30. Do you want same life a) Yes 8%

for your siblings? b) No 92%

Female=255
Work culture of child labors
 35% of child labors work for more than 8 hours 32% of child labors work for
8 hours, 24% work for 6 hours and 9% of child labors work for more than 10
hours.
 77% of child labors work for 6 days, 11% of child labors work for 7 days and
12% of child labors work for 5 days.
 The employers mostly do not beat the child labors but the wages they gave
to child labors are comparatively very low compared to adult workers.
 56% of child labors revealed that they do not have any health issue due to
the occupation they are pursuing.
31. How many hours a day a) 6 hours 24%

do you work? b) 8 hours 32%
c) More than 8 35%
hours 9%
d) More than 10
hours
34
32. How many days a week a) 5 days 12%

do you work? b) 6 days 77%
c) 7 days 11%
33. Does your employer a) Yes 13%

scold or beat you? b) No 80%
c) Sometimes 7%
34. Do you have any health A) Yes 44%

issue due to your B) No 56%
occupation?
35. Does your employer pay a) Yes 31%

your wages on time? b) No 69%
36. Is there any difference a) Yes 72%

between the wages b) No 28%
given to you and an
adult?
Female=255
Findings/ inferences of the study:-

1. As from the study, it was found that child labor is a pervasive problem
throughout all the areas under study. Child labor is prevalent in these areas
as the capacity to enforce minimum age requirements for schooling and
work is lacking. Children work for a variety of reasons, the most important
being poverty and the induced pressure upon them to escape from this
plight. Though children are not well paid, they still serve as major
contributors to family income in all the sampled areas. Schooling problems
35
also contribute to child labor, whether it is the inaccessibility of schools or

the lack of quality education which spares parents to enter their children in
more profitable pursuits.
2. Working children are the objects of extreme exploitation in terms of toiling
for long hours for minimal pay. There work conditions are especially severe,
often are not providing the stimulation for proper physical and mental
development. Many of these children endure lives of pure deprivation.
3. There could be many factors related with child labor. However, broadly
speaking most of the reasons are:
Dropout:
Dropout is a major problem which adds to the number of child labors and in
every area of the study, school children are quitting the school, mostly even
before passing the middle class. Family poverty and lack of support by
parents who themselves may have little education, is cited as key factor
related to dropping out. Besides, the school did not track the cases of the
dropouts from their schools. Any child who quits the school is not being
given any consideration by the school staff, in order to find the reasons for
the school leaving.
Lack of coordination between teachers and parents:
Parents and overall family has a great role in the education process of a
child. In all areas, where the study was conducted, the response of the
parents towards education of there is ignorant. They never come to the
school for knowing the status of their child in the process of education. Due
to their ignorant attitude towards the education they poorly respond to the
teacher parent meetings.
36
School infrastructure:
School infrastructure to a large extent is also responsible for dropout and

child laboring. When children go to schools for study, unfortunately, they
are fed up due to lack of proper facilities like matting, boards, toilets,
library and things like these. Hence their parents prefer to send their
children for work instead of education.
Corporal punishment:-
The prevalence of Corporal punishment in schools is also responsible for

school drop outs.
37
Child labour
Child labor in Kashmir and itscase studyinBaramulla
intensity district Baramulla
Behind every beautiful thing there is a story of a broken dream……….
Introduction to case:-
Name: - Imran Ahmad Malla
Father’s name: - Mohammad Yusuf Malla
Village:- Janwanipora (k.p payeen)
Mother’s name: - Gulshana Begum
Status: - Drop Out (class 4th)
Age: - 13 yrs
Economically active: - Yes (Pashmina Weaving)
38
resides is devoid from the basic amenities of life like drinking water, proper
sanitation facilities, accessible schooling and health facilities etc.
The primary occupation of people living there is farming, carpet weaving,

spashmina weaving and casual labour. The community is educationally and
economically backward from generations. The children of his village are almost all
first generation learners. Even today education is not a prime concern for people
residing there. They usually engage children in domestic chores, sibling care, apple
package, embroidery work, sand drenching and labour both skilled and casual.
Imran was one among those underprivileged children who didn’t get the
opportunity of continuing education.
Family background and family occupation:-
Imran lives in a family of 7 members consisting of his parents and siblings. He

has two sisters and 3 brothers. Two elder brothers are economically active one is
involved in carpet weaving and another in pashmina weaving. Two younger
siblings are school going. The family of Imran resides in a 4 roomed pucca house
but the house is without doors and windows. They belong to BPL category and
possess AAY ration card.
The family of Imran is following the trend of the community in regard to

stopping the education of children either after completing primary education or
39
before completing the same. Earlier his elder siblings stopped education before
completing primary level and got involved in labour. Imran followed their
footprints and discontinued education from class 4th and got involved in
pashmina weaving along with his sister and brother.
Gender bias is quit visible in his family as his elder sister is never been to school.
Even his younger sister was never been to school in the age group of 6.5 yrs but
she was admitted in government primary school Janwanipora by the concerned
team of JKASW after a no. of motivation and counseling visits to his home.
Both the parents of Imran are illiterate, his father is involved in carpet weaving
and mother is involved in domestic chores. They are more concerned towards
the survival of their children than development.
The bread earners of Imran’s family are his father, elder siblings and Imran
himself. Earlier, only his father and elder brother were engaged in carpet
weaving but with time his fathers stopped the education of his other children
also including Imran and involve them in child labour.
The family is in possession of 2 kanals of rented land but the land is flood prone
and most of the times yield no production. Even if it yields any production but
that is too small that does not fulfill the demands of the family and they have to
give one fourth of the yield to the department of Rakhs and farms.
40
A child that should have a pen to write and a ball to play in his hand is
having a tool for earning……………………..
Detail/reason for dropping education and occupational hazard:-
Imran was studying in a nearby government primary school at Janwanipora. He

used to attend the school regularly and was one among the toppers of the school.
He had a dream of becoming doctor in future.
When he was studying in class 4th he got fracture in his leg and was admitted for
four months at hospital. After that his father instead of sending him to school
discontinued his education and involved him in pashmina weaving.
As per Imran,” when I was studying in class 4th my leg was fractured and I
was admitted for 4 months in a hospital. After that period my father told
me to learn pashmina weaving instead of going to school. I urged him for
rejoining the school but all in vain. He told me that you have to do the
41
something then why a year after why not a year before.” The statement of
Imran reflects that his father has forced him to stop education and involved him in
pashmina weaving.
Since from 3 years Imran is involved in pashmina weaving that has impacted his
health and growth and development. He is stunted compared to other children of
his age and complains of continual pain in leg and right arm. Serious orthopedic
problems may prevail in him in the long run due to his continual involvement in
pashmina weaving at feeble age.
Apart from physical health disturbances he is also psychologically disturbed and

his social life is disturbed. He doesn’t interact with his peer group and shows
anguish behavior towards them.
Intervention/process followed:-
When Imran was identified by JKASW as an out school child in the April 2015 in the
age group of 12 years rigorous home visits were conducted for enrolling him at
CAC. Initially his father showed a lot of resistance in joining CAC. However with
constant home visits and follow-up strategy his father was motivated for
admitting him in CAC of JKASW. He was enrolled in age specific class i.e., level 3rd
but his education started from basic level as from entry assessment it got reflected
that he has forgotten the concepts of primary classes and needs revision of that
classes. Initially he was regular to CAC but after 3 months he became irregular.
But with the efforts of concerned team he was retained and as per jump level
syllabus his two levels were completed and he passed that with good marks. From
December 2015 he is being taught level third syllabus but due to his irregularity
the proposed targets become too difficult to achieve.
42
As per Imran,”My father shows cooperation in sending me to CAC in presence of

your team but he usually told me that you are wasting 2 hours of work in their
CAC.”
The statement of Imran reflects that the reason of his irregularity is his father as
he is not cooperating in educating him. In order to change his father’s behavior
and attitude towards education we usually involve him in community meetings
wherein we used to orient community people about the value of education in
order to bring attitudinal shift in them.
Apart from imparting education he is also involved in CGD activities so that he can
participate in activities with other children and will get an opportunity for
expressing ideas and opinions and enjoy social life with his peer group.
Follow-up strategy of JKASW:-
As per Imran, “I want to continue studies in the formal fold of education. The
only thing is that my father should get motivated and allow me for continuing
education in mainstream education.”
43
The follow-up strategy of Imran was planned as per his above statement;
 Completion of level third syllabus and its external examination.

 After passing level third examination he will be mainstreamed in class 8th.
 Motivation of Imran’s father for mainstreaming him in formal education.
 Providing remedial classes to Imran after school hours at CAC.
 Continual involvement of Imran in CGD.
Sample of format used for collecting data from the respondents:-
Respondent’s profile
1. Gender
a) Male b) Female
2. Age
a) 6-9 yrs
b) 9-12 yrs
c) 12-14 yrs
d) 14-18 yrs
3. Child occupation
a) Carpet weaving
b) Pashmina weaving
c) Needle work
d) Casual labour
e) Any other
4. Type of family
a) Nuclear
b) Joint
5. Total family members
44
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) Any other…if specify the no…….
6. No. of siblings
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) If more than three specify the no…..
7. Type of house
a) Pucca house
b) Kutcha house
c) Semi pucca house
d) Tin shed
e) Any other type specify………
Socio-economic profile of the respondent
8. Source of income to family
f) Father
g) mother
h) land
i) siblings
j) respondent him/herself
9. Father’s occupation
f) Carpet weaving
g) Pashmina weaving
h) Farming
i) Casual labour
j) Any other
10.Mother’s occupation
45
f) Carpet weaving
g) Pashmina weaving
h) Needle work
i) Domestic chores
j) Any other
11.Child’s monthly income

f) Below 3000
g) 3000-5000
h) 5000-7000
i) 7000-10000
j) Other than above specify……..
12.Monthly income of family
e) 3000-5000
f) Above 5000
g) Above 10000
h) Other than above specify……..
13.What did you do with your earnings?
f) Spend on personal needs
g) Contribution in family budget
h) Bank savings
i) Family savings
j) Any other specify………
14.At what age did you started working
f) Above 5 yrs
g) 8-9yrs
h) 9-12yrs
i) 12-14yrs
j) Above 14 yrs
46
15.No. of siblings in school going age

c) All
d) If not specify the no………
16.No of siblings school going
c) All
d) If not specify the no…….
17.No. of siblings out of school
c) All
18.Siblings involved in child labour
c) All
k) child himself/herself
l) any other
Detail for dropping education or for not attending school
19.Have you never been to school?
c) Yes
d) No
20.class in which dropped education
d) lower primary
e) upper primary
f) middle
g) secondary
21.Reason for dropping education
e) poverty
f) illiteracy and ignorance of parents
g) disinterest in studies
h) corporal punishment
i) any other
47
22. Were you satisfied with the infrastructure of your school?

c) yes
d) no
23.Were you satisfied with the PTR of your school?
e) yes
f) no
24.Were you satisfied with the teachers of your school?
g) yes
h) no
25. Does your family support you in yourself decisions?
c) Yes
d) No
Aims and aspirations of child labors
26.What was your aim in life?
b) Self employed
c) Govt. employed
d) Nothing
27.Are you satisfied in your life?
c) Yes
d) No
28.Do you have any dream for your life?
D) Yes
E) No
F) If yes specify……..
29.Do you want same life for your siblings?
c) Yes
d) No
48
Work culture of child labors
30.How many hours a day do you work?

e) 6 hours
f) 8 hours
g) More than 8 hours
h) More than 10 hours
31.How many days a week do you work?
d) 5 days
e) 6 days
f) 7 days
32.Does your employer scold or beat you?
d) Yes
e) No
f) Sometimes
33.Do you have any health issue due to your occupation?
C) Yes
D) No
34.Does your employer pay your wages on time?
c) Yes
d) No
34. Is there any difference between the wages given to you and an adult?
c) Yes
d) No
49
Chapter: 5
Conclusion and suggestions
After going through the study, we found that the higher percentage of the
working children is found to be in the age group of 12 to 14 years. The study also
revealed that the child belongs to all the categories and majority of them are from
family size of 8 to 10 members. The statistical analysis reveals relationship
between the age of child worker and respective family size, it was found that
parents mostly belong to large family structure were sending their children to
work at a very early age. A higher percentage of the respondents are dropouts,
this is because of poverty, and ignorance of parents and to some extent very low
cases of death of bread winners. it was also observed that the economic need is
forcing the parents to send their children to work. The statistical analysis shows
that most fathers of the children are illiterate and about a large number of child
labors were induced or sent to work by their own fathers at the age of 6 to 10
years, and are found working as waiters, helpers, handicrafts, shepherds etc. This
makes the way to the inevitable social evil of the child labor. All the child labors
are found to be working for 9 to 5 per day and majority of them receive monthly
income between 1500 to 3000 or some times less than that. The study also
revealed that child workers are not given a rest for relaxation; they are given
aggregated period of 45 minutes of lunched, tea break between the working
hours. The statistical analysis proved that the general health status of the child
workers is found to be unsatisfactory. Besides this the children are affected by the
extreme heat in summers and cold weaves in winter, because maximum workers
work in open space
Regarding plans, majority of the mature children have plans to establish their own
business activities and have desire to become working masters.
50
Finally, my field study/observation reveals that the number of working children at

different places of the areas under study is increasing. Of course, the voluntary
organizations are engaged in the welfare of child labors, but are not able to do
much in this grave problem without the support from government especially legal
support through proper enforcement of laws.
Recommendations:-
To overcome the problem of child labor, it is the need of an hour to take some
broad preventive measures, it could be said that the family background and
poverty is the major reason for child labor. If proper counseling is given to
parents/family of a child as well as to the child himself, he could well be prepared
for schooling and at other levels some broad steps should be taken if the child’s
family is supported economically.
In spite of the above remedial measures, there could be many more as there are
many approaches and no single magic solution. Based on the major findings of the
present study, the following suggestions may be made for prevention of child
labor and for the betterment of the working conditions and rehabilitation
measures for the child workers in the different fields:
(1) Making education free in all respects in Jammu and Kashmir.
(2)Ban on the worst form of child labor through strict implementation of child
labour laws.
(3) Strong monitoring of schools for reducing the pushing factors of child labour in
schools.
(4) Promotion of quality educations at schools.
(5) Exclusive non government organizations should be promoted in different

regions to take up the necessary cooperative work with the government
departments at micro level and with the parents of children at macro level.
51
(6) Rehabilitation programmes for child workers.
(7) Parent communities should be formed at school level.
52
Bibliography:
(1): Agarwal Babita, 2007: Child labor in India, ABD Publishers, Jaipur
(2): Mishra R N, 2003: Child labor in Hazardous secretors, Discovery publishing

house, New Delhi.
(3): Weiner Myron ED, 1998: The child and state in India, Manzoor khan
publishers, Oxford university press, Jai Singh road, New Delhi.
(4):M.L.Narasahiah, 2003: Child Labor and agriculture, Discovery publishing

house, New Delhi.
(5): Mehta P.L, 2006: Child Labor and the Laws, Deep and Deep publications, New
Delhi.
(6): Tripathy S.N, 1991: Exploitation of Child labor in Tribal India,Daya publishing
house, New Delhi.
(7): Mustafa Mohammad and Sharma, Omkar 1996: Child Labor in India, A bitter
truth, deep and deep publication New Delhi.
(8): Mishra Laxmidhar, 2000: Child Labor in India, Oxford University press New
Deli.
(9): Hussain Mohd Ashfaq, 1987: Exploitation of women and child labor in Bidi
industry in Samsarganj and child workers in Asia, October, and December 1987.
(10): Journals: Child labor; the real solution and The world of child labor.
(11): Boucher prepared by the Koshish regarding activities of Koshish. Adapted

(12): data from: Inter-parliamentary Union/International Labour Office, 2002
(13): causes and consequences of child labour in Kashmir
53

Child Labor in Kashmir by Mir Aijaz

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Child Labor in Kashmir by Mir Aijaz

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Child labor in Kashmir and its intensity in district Baramulla

I (Aijaz Ahmad Mir) take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude

I would like to express the deepest appreciation to the coordinating team of

Mr. Aijaz Ahmad Mir

Evaluation report of “child labour in Kashmir and its Intensity in district

s.no. Chapter Content Page no.

1. Chapter No. 1 Introduction about 4-14

2. Chapter No. 2 Defining the research 15-19

3. Chapter No. 3 Research 20-23

4. Chapter No. 4 Data analysis and 24-45

5. Chapter no. 5 Conclusion and 46-48

Introduction about child labour

Child as an important entity:

Child is said to be the father of man and citizen of tomorrow. He is an important

What is child labour?

Child labor in international context/global context:

countries, economically active children are highly prevalent in Nepal followed by

The declaration of rights of child adopted by UN general assembly 20th November

Child labor in Prone Areas:

Child labor in match industry:

Child labor in Mining:-

Mining hazardous include exposure to harmful dusts, grasses and

Child labor in Carpet industry:

Carpet industries attract employment of children in a very large number. In

Child labor in glass industries:

Child labor in plantation:

Child labor in India:

Child labor in Jammu and Kashmir:-

industries in the shape of famous handicrafts of Kashmir have found favour

Rights of children vis-a-vis J&K Constitution.

Total enrolment in primary and middle schools as in the year 2001-02

compulsory education according to article 45 will help in elimination of child labor.

Ashfaq Hussain Mohammad (1987) attempted to study exploitation of women

Statewide distribution of working children according to 1981, 1991 and 2001

S.no Name of the State & UT 1981 1991 2001

Note: ***** “census could not be conducted due to some reasons”

Defining the research problem

Research methodology involves means and methods of conducting the research. It

Objectives of the study

1. To understand the issue of child labor in general and in particular at district

The universe of study in my research is 10 villages of district baramulla that fall

s.no. Name of village Block Tehsil

1. Gund Ibrahim Singpora Pattan

TOOLS FOR COLLECTION OF DATA:

Observation means accurate watching, knowing phenomena as they occur in

 Observation, an affair of eyes and ears:

Besides being purposeful, observation needs to be well organized and systematic

Data analysis and interpretation /findings

 In this study 48% males and 52% females participated.

labors reside in 5 member families and 23% of child labors reside in 6

S.no. Question Answers Percentage

1. Gender a) Male 48%

2. Age a) 6-9 yrs 8.097%

3. Child occupation a) Carpet 11.13%

4. Type of family a) Nuclear 35%

5. Total family members a) 4 8%

7. Type of house a) Pucca house 7%

Total no. of 494

Socio-economic profile of the respondent

Only 3% of children started working from 14 yr age onwards and 1% of

S.no. Question Answers Percentage

8. Source of income to a) Father 40%

9. Father’s occupation a) Carpet weaving 27%