Child labour continues to be a major socio-economic and human rights concern in rural India, particularly within the agricultural sector where children are often engaged as unpaid family labour. Girl children are especially vulnerable due to persistent gender discrimination, poverty, limited access to quality education, and weak social protection mechanisms. The prevalence of girl child labour poses a serious challenge to sustainable social development and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to gender equality, education, and decent work. This study examines the socio-economic conditions of female child labourers, parental perceptions towards child labour, awareness of child rights, and knowledge of government welfare schemes in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. Adopting a descriptive and analytical research design, data were collected from 480 female child labourers using stratified random sampling. The findings reveal that poverty, parental dependence on child income, and inadequate enforcement of child labour laws are key factors sustaining child labour. The study underscores the importance of strengthening legal mechanisms, enhancing welfare awareness, and ensuring universal access to quality education to promote gender equity and sustainable development.
Veeranna et al. (2026) studied this question.