Child Labour in India: Progress in Rescues, Gaps in Justice

Context: 

In 2024–25, India intensified its efforts to tackle child labour, with more than 53,000 children rescued nationwide. A report jointly published by Just Rights for Children (JRC) and the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB) exposes the scale of child exploitation, enforcement trends, and the urgent need for stronger institutional mechanisms.

Leading States in Rescue and Arrests

• Top 3 states in child labour rescues and arrests:

  • Telangana

  • Bihar

  • Rajasthan

• These states led not just in rescue operations, but also in legal action, reflecting stronger enforcement mechanisms.

• Other states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, despite high rescue numbers, showed weaker prosecution rates.

Scale of Rescue Operations

• Time period: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025

• Total rescue operations: 38,889

• Children rescued: 53,651

• Conducted across 24 states and UTs by a network of 250+ NGOs, in coordination with law enforcement agencies.

• Top 5 states by number of children rescued:

  • Telangana: 11,063

  • Bihar: 3,974

  • Rajasthan: 3,847

  • Uttar Pradesh: 3,804

  • Delhi: 2,588

Worst Forms of Child Labour: Alarming Trends

• Nearly 90% of rescued children were found in sectors listed under the worst forms of child labour (ILO Convention 182), including:

  • Spas and massage parlours

  • Domestic work

  • Orchestra troupes

  • Informal entertainment

  • Sexual exploitation, including pornography and prostitution

• These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted legal action and protective rehabilitation frameworks.

Enforcement and Legal Action

• 85% of FIRs registered were directly related to child labour offences.

• Arrests were highest in Telangana, Bihar, and Rajasthan, indicating better follow-through on rescue operations.

• The report highlights that prosecution acts as a deterrent, raises public awareness, and helps in breaking the cycle of exploitation.

Key Recommendations from the Report

1. Launch a National Mission to End Child Labour with proper funding and staffing.

2. Form district-level Child Labour Task Forces.

3. Set up a Child Labour Rehabilitation Fund.

4. Create a national rehabilitation policy with a focus on long-term support.

5. Extend compulsory education to 18 years, beyond the current RTE cap of 14 years.

6. Frame state-specific policies addressing local socio-economic realities.

7. Enforce zero-tolerance for child labour in government procurement.

8. Expand the list of hazardous occupations under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

9. Extend the SDG 8.7 deadline to 2030 for realistic implementation.

India's Global and National Commitments

• India is a signatory to ILO Convention 182, which mandates the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

• While legal reforms have progressed, the report stresses the need for:

  • Institutional convergence

  • Judicial accountability

  • Robust rehabilitation systems

• As JRC rightly notes:
  “Justice for children trapped in the worst forms of child labour will only be achieved when the culprits are punished and strong protection mechanisms are in place.”