Social and health scenario of child labour at districtlevel inIndia

International Labor Organisation (ILO) launched International Programme for Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) in1991 to contribute to the effective abolition of child labour in the world. In a cross sectional, study three hundredrandomly selected children aged between 5-18 years from the different work places in a small district of eastern U.Pwere surveyed by using pre-tested proforma. Children upto age of 18 yrsremains in the domain of pediatrician andhence,this study included children upto 18 years.Majority had no formal education. They areschool dropouts. Ageat which they were,inducted as labour showed maximumnumber in age 9-13 years. A positive aspect was found insome to earn to finance their education. Apart from the knownindirect correlates, which, areconfirmed in our studya positive attitude regardingstudy emerged. A good number is forced to satisfy their own life style motivateddemands to boost their image and some to finance their education however as negative attribute some earn enoughto indulge in vices like tobacco use. Poverty, as a trigger necessitated them to work and has compounded theproblem in their rehabilitation. Their health is jeopardized i.e. malnutrition, anaemia and Vitamin A and B complexdeficiency. The age of the children in present study is upto 18 years inclusive of adolescents while the legal age inThe ChildLabour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, there is a need for its upward revision.