8,000 children slave away in sweatshops: Survey

Over 8,000 children are working in garment factories in Delhi, a report revealed on Friday. A survey — The Hidden Workforce — by Save the Children organisation was released by Women and Child Development Minister Sandeep Kumar at Constitutional Club here.According to the survey, conducted across five districts of Delhi in 14 garment industry hotspots, 70 per cent child labourers could be girls, while 87 per cent of the total were found to be working in home settings and only 13 per cent work in addas (household-based units where unrelated adults and children work together).

It was also brought into light that children below five years comprised 51 per cent of the total and worked as thread-cutters. The wages earned by 40 per cent of them is less than `1,000. Reportedly, a modified sampling was also done to identify and understand their living conditions. When interviewed, 60 per cent children stated financial reasons for entering into child labour. 

It was appalling that the cases of child labour are minimal as it is allegedly ‘hidden’ due to strict laws against it. Save the Children CEO Thomas Chandy said, “The work at such a tender age affects their eyesight, body posture and essentially their future.” Adding to the facts, he informed that 76 per cent don’t complaint about their educational needs.

Speaking at the occasion, Minister Sandeep Kumar said, “We have not been entirely successful in providing education and protective environment to the future of our country.” The Minister blamed it on Centre for not taking any stringent measures in child protection rights. While it is being projected that majority of the child labourers are migrants, Member of Delhi Commission for protection of Child Rights Act Mamta Sahai opposed to the false claim and said, “64 per cent of them are from Delhi and only 36 per cent are migrants.” She also said that rehabilitation of these children is never focused upon.