SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND THE PERSISTENCE OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN INDIA

Child exploitation in India—encompassing labor, trafficking, sexual abuse, domestic servitude, and forced marriages—threatens millions of children despite robust laws like the Child Labour Act (2016), POCSO Act (2012), and Juvenile Justice Act (2015). This chapter delves into prevalent forms, backed by ILO estimates of over 10 million child laborers and NCRB data on trafficking, alongside case studies from construction, agriculture, and urban homes. Root causes include poverty, weak enforcement, cultural norms, and institutional failures like corruption and underfunded shelters. Drawing from child rights activists and survivor accounts, it critiques low conviction rates (e.g., 12% in 2023 trafficking cases) and proposes reforms: National Child Tracking Systems, fast-track courts, cash transfers, community vigilance, and media ethics. Comparative insights from Brazil, Norway, and Kenya underscore multi-pronged solutions emphasizing education, rehabilitation, and global cooperation for sustainable child protection.