CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA-SHOULD BE LEGALISED?

Abstract
Child labour remains one of the most persistent social issues in developing nations,
particularly in India, which has one of the world’s largest populations of working children between the ages of five
and fourteen. Despite numerous government programs and international efforts to eliminate child labour, results
have been limited due to poverty, illiteracy, and weak enforcement mechanisms. This paper explores whether
regulated legalization of child labour, with provisions for compulsory education and nutrition, could serve as a
sustainable and realistic alternative to the existing prohibitionist framework.
Drawing from comparative analyses of nations like Brazil, the UK, and the US, as well as ethical, economic, and
utilitarian perspectives, the study argues that a pragmatic blend of regulation, education, and corporate
responsibility can bring gradual but lasting change. Legalization under controlled conditions could transform child
labour from exploitation into empowerment through skill-building, thereby aligning economic survival with social
justice and long-term national development.