Context

• Recognised internationally, June 12 marks the World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL), established by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
• The purpose is to draw attention to the pervasive issue of child labour and to galvanise collective action from governments, employers, civil society, and international institutions.
• Despite global commitments, especially through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7, which aims to eradicate child labour in all forms by 2025, significant challenges persist.
• Amid these developments, it is crucial to explore the current scenario of child labour globally and in India, with a special focus on the Velpur model, a notable community-led initiative that successfully eliminated child labour in a region once notorious for it.

The Global Burden of Child Labour and Child Labour in India

• The Global Burden of Child Labour
  • Child labour affects an estimated 160 million children worldwide, roughly one in ten children, many of whom are deprived of their basic rights to education, dignity, and a safe childhood.
  • The majority of these children are found in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, where socio-economic challenges are often more acute.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic further worsened the situation, as economic instability forced many children out of school and into the workforce to support their families.
  • These regressions demonstrate the fragility of past progress and underscore the need for sustained, focused interventions.
• Child Labour in India: Laws and Reality
  • India is no stranger to the blight of child labour.
  • According to the 2011 Census, approximately 43.5 lakh (4.35 million) children aged between 5 to 14 were engaged in various forms of labour, including in the beedi, carpet-weaving, and firework industries.
  • Despite the existence of legislative measures such as the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986, and its 2016 amendment, enforcement has been inconsistent.
  • The Right to Education (RTE) Act mandates free and compulsory education for children between six and 14 years, but a combination of poverty, lack of access to schools, and illiteracy continue to push children into work.
  • Though initiatives like the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) exist, success has often been short-lived, with children frequently returning to labour due to systemic issues. 

The Velpur Model: A Story of Hope and Transformation

• A beacon of success amidst the prevailing gloom is the Velpur Mandal in Telangana, formerly Andhra Pradesh.
• Once infamous for child labour, Velpur underwent a dramatic transformation beginning in June 2001, when a local campaign was launched to ensure universal school enrolment for children aged 5 to 15.
• The movement, initially met with resistance and suspicion, gained momentum through persistent community engagement, awareness campaigns, and a strong sense of ownership.
• The strategy involved:
  • Identifying and enrolling every out-of-school child.
  • Establishing bridge schools under NCLP for working children.
  • Conducting public meetings to promote education.
  • Persuading employers and moneylenders to forgive debts and release children from bonded labour.
  • Encouraging village leaders to sign an MoU with the government, committing to the elimination of child labour.
• By October 2, 2001, Velpur was officially declared a child labour-free mandal.
• Notably, community pride helped sustain this achievement, as villagers erected boards proclaiming their child labour-free status and vigilantly ensured continued school attendance.
• Even twenty-four years later, the mandal boasts 100% school retention.

Institutional Recognition and Lasting Impact

• Velpur’s success did not go unnoticed. On October 8, 2021, the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) celebrated the 20th anniversary of this intervention.
• Stakeholders from across the community were honoured for their roles, and media outlets confirmed the absence of child labour.
• The ILO, former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and the National Human Rights Commission acknowledged the achievement.
• In 2022, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour invited the campaign’s architect, then Collector of Nizamabad, to present the model, which is now a core part of child labour training programs.

Conclusion

• The story of Velpur underscores a vital truth: sustainable solutions to complex social problems like child labour require grassroots ownership and active community participation.
• Legislative frameworks and government schemes, while essential, cannot succeed without local engagement.
• The Velpur model proves that transformation is possible, even in the most difficult settings, when people come together with commitment, courage, and collective will.
• As the 2025 deadline for SDG Target 8.7 looms, the global community must draw inspiration from such success stories and reorient efforts to turn the fight against child labour into a people’s movement, one child, one village at a time.