POPULATION Distress Migration and Persistent Child Labour in India

Child labour continues to be a critical issue in India, affecting millions of children and undermining their rights, education, health, and well-being. Despite legal frameworks and policy initiatives aimed at eliminating it, socio-economic vulnerabilities, poverty, distress-driven migration, and weak enforcement mechanisms continue to sustain the practice, particularly in informal and hazardous sectors. Children from marginalised communities are disproportionately affected, with girls facing unique forms of exploitation. The lack of recent and reliable data – exacerbated by the delay of the national Census – hinders effective policy responses. This article examines distress-driven migrant child labour in India, highlights existing policy gaps, and underscores the urgent need for evidence-based and context-specific interventions.

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