Indian Child Labor Law states that it is illegal to employ children below the age of 14 in factories or in places where they are devoid of education and proper nourishment. I am giving below three speeches on Child Labor of varied lengths for my readers.
Short and Long Speech on Child Labor
Speech 1
Good morning dear teachers, my friends, and respected Principal Sir/Madam. I am honored today by having given the opportunity to give a speech on the topic of child labor. As we know that it is illegal to employ children below the age of 14 in factories and other places.
Child labor is physically, mentally, and psychologically damaging to the children. They don’t get the necessary love, care, and nourishment, which are very much needed at that tender age. It also affects their moral beliefs and let them form a derogatory view about society and the people.
This is a dangerous situation; especially for a developing country like India. Children are the future of the nation and child labor is destroying its future by destroying the future of its children. It’s is not only illegal but also an evil practice and must be stopped immediately.
The government needs to act now and that too with its full potential to address the issue. If only each and every child of India gets an education, is loved and cared, and gets proper nourishment, that India can make progress both economically and socially.
That’s all I had to say. You all had been a great audience. Thank You!
Speech 2
Good morning Principal Sir, teachers, and all my dear friends. We all are well aware of the issue of child labor that poses a threat to the lives of millions of children today.
Child labor constitutes the employment of children below the legal age of 18 years. It is not employment but rather the exploitation of children. They work in an arduous and inhospitable environment for very less amount of money.
Forget about the money they are not even given one complete square meal. Often the children work in small industries that present new health hazards. For example, children working in the glass industry, fore works, often develop respiratory ailments.
Also, such children didn’t get an opportunity to go to school and are out of reach of all the government welfare schemes. They live their life silently in a secluded place where it would be difficult for us to hear their screams and see them cry.
India is an agriculture-based economy with farmers’ constituting around 70% of its total population. No wonder then that the Indian agriculture industry amounts to 18% of India’s total GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and employs 50% of India’s total workforce. But, to you know that it is also the largest employer of child labor.
Millions of children work in fields for a very small sum of money they get in return. And worst they don’t have any record, no support and all; they just work and get paid that’s it.
There should be a strong will by the government to eliminate child labor. If only the government could make relevant agencies and officials accountable, changes would be witnessed.
It would be much better if the government agencies and the NGOs work in co-ordination to find out the places where children are employed and thereby book the responsible under relevant sections of law.
With this, I would end my speech! Thank You!
Speech 3
Good Morning Principal Sir, teachers and my very dear friends. I am here to give a speech on the subject of child labor.
Technically we all know what child labor is. We also know that there are laws in place and dedicated government machinery to prevent and eliminate child labor. But somehow the laws are being compromised and children are still working in several unorganized sectors.
Child labor is more prominent in developing countries as compared to developed countries. Child labor in the USA and Britain is much lower than that in Africa, India, or Pakistan.
Children are often employed in unorganized sectors like small factories, glass industries, roadside eateries, hotels, etc. It is very easy to spot a child in India, working as a service boy or utensil cleaner in India. Similarly, the agriculture industry is the largest employer of children below the age of sixteen.
What is more disturbing is that these children are forced into child labor; they didn’t choose it themselves. Often they belong to extremely poor families or are orphans or worst, have been victims of child trafficking.
When a child is employed it is more likely that he/she is rather exploited in several ways. Children are less complaining than elders and considerably easy to manage. Moreover, they are paid much less than the elders.
The worst part is that they are devoid of education that diminishes future hopes of a good and satisfying life. That is why I say that child labor is the physical and mental exploitation of a child that stays with him/her till his/her last breath.
Often these children are sent on work by their own parents who find it impossible to feed them. This is a grim realization of the country’s economical status. Their limits must have reached, otherwise who would send his own child to work manually for long hours, that too for a small amount of money.
Child labor, my friend is more serious a problem, whether we realize it or not. It is possible that we live in a society where we don’t see any child labor but when you step out of your comfort zone, you would see. You will meet children selling in stalls in a railway station; you would see them taking orders at a highway Dhaba, etc.
Do you know that the million-dollar Indian firecracker industry employs children below 18 years? They constitute 80% of the total industry’s workforce.
We have to come out of this seriously. As long as child labor exists in India, we are messing up with our own future. There will be no growth or development, even in the coming centuries, if child labor in India continues.
It would require a collective effort from the government and society to overcome this problem. Governments make laws, but it depends on several of its agencies as well as the public for their implementation.
At last, it all comes down to the ground zero public servants and the common people like you and me; people who can actually make a difference only if they are willing.
Much will change if the law enforcement officers and the public work in unison with a strong will to eliminate child labor. Gradually things will change and we would see that India becomes a country where child labor isn’t practiced.
With this, I end my speech. I hope that I was able to make you all understand the meaning and impacts of child labor on the child and on the nation as well. I would like to speak more on the topic but the time doesn’t allow me. Thank You!
