Causes and Impact of Child Labour – A Case Study of Carpet Industry in Kashmir Valley

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to determine the causes and impact of child labour in the carpet industry in Kashmir Valley. A primary survey was conducted to investigate the relationship between socio-economic determinants of working child and their likelihood to be in school and at work. Various reasons given by working children, their parents and employers favouring child labours were analysed in this paper. Parents’ illiteracy and ignorance, poverty, absence of adult wage earners and unemployment opportunities were found the main causes of child labour in the case area. The study presents the negative correlation between percentage contribution of child labour and household's income, while as showed positive relationship to the parents illiteracy. The study also determined the various effects such as weak eye sightedness, backache, headache etc. of child labour in carpet industry. Results of the study suggested that child labour in carpet industry is hazardous for child health and thus needs protection.