Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
Child labour is surging in Jammu and Kashmir despite laws. According to different reports on child labour in J&K, there are more than 1 lakh child labourers in the state, majority of who work in the handicrafts sector, automobile workshops, brick kilns, agriculture and as domestic servants in homes. Child labour is a significant concern in Jammu and Kashmir, with many children being forced to work in various sectors, including brick factories and domestic work. Recent rescue operations have highlighted the gravity of the situation.
In November 2024, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Srinagar, in collaboration with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Srinagar, launched a drive to rescue children engaged in child labor, resulting in the rescue of 10 to 15 children. In February 2025, authorities rescued seven children who were forced into child labor in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. The district administration has intensified efforts to combat child labor and begging, with regular drives planned to protect vulnerable children.
According to report on ‘child labour in J&K: social, economic and ethical dimension’ there are more than one lakh child labourers in the state, majority of whom work in the handicrafts sector, automobile workshops, brick kilns, agriculture and as domestic servants in homes. Hundreds of children are forced into unpaid or paid work that deprives them of education, a happy childhood and a prosperous future. Learn about the child labour situation in Kashmir and what more needs to be done. A majority of the working children are found in rural area. In urban areas, they are found in canteens/restau¬rants, or are found engaged in picking rags and hawking goods on foot-path. But some children are working in highly hazardous conditions. The lives of innumerable children are ruined because of the poverty and misery of their parents. Childhood is considered to be the best time of one’s life but unfortunately, this does not hold true for some children who struggle to make both ends meet during their childhood years. The uneducated only care about a short term result which is why they put children to work so they can survive their present. Furthermore, the money-saving attitude of various industries is a major cause of child labour. They hire children because they pay them lesser for the same work as an adult.
It is observed that poverty, lack of good schools and growth of informal economy are considered as the major causes of child labour in the state. Sources told KNS that thousands of child labour cases are found in Kashmir, but the existing anti-child labour laws are full of loopholes. Poverty is a primary driver of child labor, with many families relying on their children’s income for survival. Parental illiteracy and ignorance about the negative effects of child labor exacerbate the issue. High adult unemployment and underemployment rates contribute to the prevalence of child labor.
Child labour can result in extreme bodily and mental harm, and even death. It can lead to slavery and sexual or economic exploitation. As per the report a huge percentage of child labour cases have been reported from unorganized sectors where children continue to work without receiving any help from government or from any of its agencies.
Majority of child workers in Kashmir valley are confined to handicrafts sector, the reason being that the work centers are spread over the entire geographical area of the valley despite its difficult terrain and topography and are easily accessible to the workers. It is time to consign child labour to the history books and to allow all children to realise their rights. Child labour is a fact of life for children and it is an issue that effect of all us in many country. No doubt, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has launched drives to curb child labor and begging, with a focus on rehabilitation and support services for rescued children. The government has to come up with the strong plan that can be implemented on ground so that we could save these children from destruction but it is not only the duty of Government, educated and affluent citizens in J&K can come forward and contribute to the upliftment of this class of society. They should spread the message about the harmful effects of child labour. Schools and colleges can also come up with innovative teaching programmes for poor children.
(The author is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected])
