The White Lie - A Child Labour Documentary

Summary

The video addresses the issue of child labor in India, highlighting the challenges faced by children who are forced to work, particularly in hazardous industries like Bt cotton farming. Despite amendments to the Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act, which reduced the number of hazardous industries and changed the definition of a child, loopholes still exist that allow for exploitation. The narrative underscores the importance of education and the detrimental impact of child labor on children's futures, calling for stricter enforcement and greater accountability to protect vulnerable young workers.

Takeaways

• 👶 The amendment to the Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act 1986 reduced the definition of a child from below 18 to below 14.
• 🛑 Children below 14 are not allowed to work in any industry except family businesses.
• 📉 The number of hazardous industries for 14-18 year-olds was reduced from 83 to 3.
• 🔍 The amendment appears to lack thoughtful consideration and accountability.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family businesses and agriculture sectors are exceptions where children can work.
• 👨‍🏫 Education systems are pushing children out of classrooms and into labor, especially in rural areas.
• 👷 Children constitute a major part of the workforce in the Bt cotton industry, often working in hazardous conditions.
• 🧬 Bt cotton involves biotechnology and manual labor, which exploits children for their 'nimble fingers' in cross-pollination.
• 💉 Use of pesticides and fertilizers in Bt cotton fields poses severe health risks to children.
• ⚖️ The economic benefits of child labor are recognized, but it remains a critical ethical and legal issue that needs addressing.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the script?

The main issue discussed in the script is child labor, specifically the amendments to the Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act 1986 and its implications on children's rights and education.

What changes were proposed in the 2016 amendment to the Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act?

The 2016 amendment proposed three major changes: the definition of a child was changed from below the age of eighteen to below 14, children below 14 were prohibited from working in any industry except family businesses, and the list of hazardous industries for individuals aged 14 to 18 was reduced from 83 to 3.

What are the potential problems with the reduction of hazardous industries?

The reduction of hazardous industries from 83 to 3 was done without proper logic or rationale, potentially exposing children to dangerous working conditions without adequate protection or oversight.

How does child labor impact children's education?

Child labor significantly impacts children's education as they are often withdrawn from school to work, particularly during critical periods such as the Bt cotton harvesting season. This leads to missed school years and a higher dropout rate.

Why is child labor still prevalent in sectors like agriculture and family enterprises?

Child labor persists in agriculture and family enterprises due to economic pressures, lack of enforcement of labor laws, and cultural norms that see children's work as part of family support.

What is the significance of Bt cotton in the context of child labor?

Bt cotton, being a labor-intensive crop, often employs children for tasks like cross-pollination and harvesting. This work exposes children to hazardous conditions, including exposure to pesticides and heavy machinery.

What are the health risks associated with children working in Bt cotton fields?

Children working in Bt cotton fields face health risks from exposure to pesticides and fertilizers, leading to severe illnesses and even mysterious deaths due to inadequate safety measures.

How does the script depict the economic rationale behind child labor?

The script suggests that child labor is economically beneficial for industries as it provides cheap labor without the need for taxes or social security, thus helping meet grand economic targets but at the cost of children's rights and safety.

What are the long-term consequences of child labor for children?

Long-term consequences of child labor include lack of education, poor health, and limited future employment opportunities, trapping children in a cycle of poverty and exploitation.

What can be inferred about the government's stance on child labor based on the script?

The script infers that while the government has made some legislative efforts to address child labor, the implementation and enforcement are lacking, and certain amendments may have weakened protections rather than strengthened them.

Outlines

00:00

🚸 Changes in Child Labor Laws

The paragraph discusses the amendments made to the Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act of 1986 in July 2016. It highlights the major changes: the definition of a child now refers to individuals below 14 years, children under 14 are prohibited from working except in family businesses, and the list of hazardous industries for children aged 14-18 was drastically reduced. The text criticizes these amendments for lacking thoughtful consideration, reducing accountability, and possibly increasing child labor exploitation.

05:02

🏫 Impact of Child Labor on Education

This paragraph emphasizes the detrimental impact of child labor on children's education, especially in rural areas. It mentions how children working in Bt cotton production often miss months of school, leading to a significant dropout rate. The quality of education is compromised, and children engaged in labor face physical dangers, including injuries from working with heavy machinery. The text underscores the challenge of balancing education and child labor in rural economies.

10:04

⚠️ Health Risks and Legal Loopholes

The paragraph outlines the severe health risks faced by children working in Bt cotton production, including exposure to pesticides and fertilizers leading to mysterious deaths. It also critiques the legal system for failing to protect these children adequately. The children, often treated as commodities, work under harsh conditions and lack basic safety measures. The text calls for stricter enforcement of child labor laws and better protection for vulnerable children.

15:04

💔 The Plight of Invisible Children

This paragraph paints a poignant picture of the invisible and voiceless existence of child laborers. It urges the reader to imagine a world where children are not recognized or treated as individuals, facing neglect and abuse. The text questions societal acceptance of child labor and calls for action to change this grim reality. It ends with a contemplative note on the future of children trapped in labor and the need for systemic change.

Keywords

💡Child Labor

Child labor refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful. In the video, it discusses the negative impact of child labor on education and health, highlighting legislative changes and the ongoing issue of children working in hazardous industries.

💡Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act 1986

This Act was created to prohibit the engagement of children in certain employments and to regulate the conditions of work of children in other employments. The video mentions the 2016 amendment to this act, which changed the definition of a child and reduced the list of hazardous industries, impacting the enforcement of child labor laws.

💡Hazardous Industries

These are industries that pose significant health and safety risks to workers. The video discusses the reduction in the number of industries classified as hazardous for children aged 14 to 18, from 83 to 3, which raises concerns about the safety and well-being of working children.

💡Bt Cotton

Bt Cotton is a genetically modified cotton variety that produces an insecticide to combat bollworm. The video describes how children are employed in the Bt cotton industry, performing tasks like cross-pollination and harvesting, which expose them to harmful chemicals and dangerous working conditions.

💡Education

Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the development of children. The video highlights how child labor interferes with education, as children working in industries like Bt cotton often miss months of schooling, affecting their long-term educational and developmental prospects.

💡Legislation

Legislation refers to the laws enacted by a government. The video discusses various legislative measures aimed at regulating child labor, including the Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act and its amendments, and critiques the effectiveness and enforcement of these laws.

💡Family Enterprises

Family enterprises are businesses owned and operated by families. The video mentions that under the amended child labor law, children under 14 are allowed to work in family enterprises, which can lead to exploitation and hinder their education and development.

💡Exploitation

Exploitation involves unfair treatment or use of someone for personal gain. The video highlights the exploitation of children in labor, where they are forced to work in harsh conditions for little or no pay, often affecting their health and future opportunities.

💡Health Hazards

Health hazards are dangers to health that can arise from exposure to harmful conditions or substances. The video describes how children working in industries like Bt cotton face significant health hazards, including exposure to pesticides and the risk of injury from heavy machinery.

💡Economic Impact

Economic impact refers to the effect of an event, policy, or market condition on the economy. The video connects child labor to larger economic issues, explaining how the use of child labor is tied to economic strategies like 'Make in India' and the informal economy, where children’s work is often unregulated and untaxed.

Highlights

Father buys a chessboard, learning to ride a bicycle without side wheels, and completing homework independently.

Carrying a pot of water home for the first time and eating with hands symbolize early life milestones.

The Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act 1986 amendment changed the definition of a child from below 18 to below 14.

Children below 14 are not allowed to work in any industry except within the family.

The list of industries considered harmful for children aged 14 to 18 was reduced from 83 to 3.

Amendments were made without logic, removing accountability in hazardous industries.

Child labor continues in family enterprises, especially in agriculture sectors.

Seasonal work in agriculture affects children's education, as they miss school during peak seasons.

Children work around heavy machinery in the Bt cotton industry, often getting injured.

Bt cotton is genetically modified to produce a better crop, but children are exposed to pesticides and fertilizers.

The theory of 'nimble fingers' is used to justify child labor in cross-pollinating Bt cotton.

Deaths among children working in Bt cotton fields have occurred due to pesticide exposure.

Child labor in Bt cotton is linked to macroeconomic issues, as it keeps costs low for the textile industry.

Legalizing child labor helps meet economic targets like 'Make in India' and 'Skill India.'

Children working in informal sectors remain invisible without official documentation.

Transcripts

you grow up with your father gets you a

chessboard

it's little balls when you learn to

cycles without side wheel when you

finish your homework by yourself when

you carry a pot of water home for the

first time when it's your turn light

without a problem eat with your hands

for the stickers that are the pencil you

drawn

I

and

it pains me that even after 65 years an

order of Independence we are less

discussing basic facets that a child

should not be made to work in July 2016

a government passed an amendment the

child labor prohibition and Regulation

Act 1986 the amendment proposed three

major changes the definition of a child

has been changed from one below the age

of eighteen to one below 14 a child

below 14 will not be allowed to work in

any industry except well into the family

and the press the list of industries

that are considered harmful for an

individual age 14 to 18 have been

brought down from 83 to 3 they also

reduced the number of hazardous

industries which is also a huge problem

because when done without any kind of

logic so if you look at the history of

1986 for the first a key time at a new

industry was added it was done with a

lot of thought it was a rationale why is

being added at etc etc now in one shot

you just remove everything and get some

like mining and some other random kinds

of things there's absolutely no thought

so it's very clear that you just want to

avoid all kinds of accountability - a

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way helps with a families regardless

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is happened through and who you last 20

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the children will work during a

season the kids work in the ceiling

during our sewing season the kids work

in the field but that management has

been on all these years but when it is

specified it is only open to its in if

they come see if it had not been any

wait what's happening and kids were

balancing right

and when they were kids working in other

areas we could go fight single law gave

you it will now give you Clause

basically to fight now those are gone

our party is very clear that there

should be no violation of child labor in

any way they have been sporadic raids

that have been conducted by US state

governments in varied fields whether it

is even in labor classes factories where

children exploited and I think that the

bill that has been passed in parliament

is testimony to the fact that there will

be no exploitation in the BIA to come

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dream which is nothing but a white side

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bt cotton is a seasonal work lasting

from about due to September and July to

October as per the rain and that is the

time when the school actually opens all

over the country

and they miss out on these 24 months and

they come back they may want to go they

may not want to go and then if they come

for bt cotton works couple of years

automatically the child gets drawn out

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its higher education system is pushing

children out of classroom and into

Coventry children constitute a major

part of the work force for the Bt cotton

industry they are engaged in manual

labor in three stages cotton production

first the flowers are cross pollinated

by hand

once the fruit ripens the cottage bought

horses

the cotton is then blocked and

collective the collected Casas is sent

to the mills virginity during this

process the children work around heavy

machinery and often injure themselves or

even lose their hand

a father for the child has liked

teaching him how to cross the road

a teacher's eyes a child and across the

cage and he struggles expenses a mother

grabbed the child had to stop him from

going astray but does the child know

he's had it on there is a theory of

nimble fingers and we talk of the child

local PT cotton stands for bacillus

thuringiensis there is a name of

bacteria which by technologically

modified the cotton seed and while

cross-pollination this nimble fingers

are very useful and they do not damage

the finished product that is the seed

which provides the better crop of cotton

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farming me something something

aggressive physically although bt cotton

is not supposed to be using pesticides

and and and fertilizers it is they

develop it is being used in an ample

quantity and there is no safety when the

spring is taking place or when this use

is being done whether the children are

doing it themselves also we don't know

but even if the adults around the few

adults around are doing the pesticides

and fertilizers the children are

touching the plant day in and day out

and then using the same hand to poke or

eat so we have had cases of death which

which were very very mysterious they had

this severe pain in the stomach and next

day morning the vomited and then that's

it they just died

what is the punishment for murdering

someone twice one but Fatima little was

where they don't belong

and second by subjecting them to

activities the graduation group stage

children are brought in from Rajasthan

parts of northern which are like

commodity they work for on the scorching

heat for cooking and yet the warmth

discomfort of a man but it's all because

they never could afford one anyway right

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from a distance but there's one move

closer this seemingly turn into big

things and maybe a part of something

even bigger but are all illusions worth

signing and uncertain if all I think

links to a larger macroeconomics kind of

a perspective which basically where we

see this linking with two things

primarily one India the countries saying

we aren't able to you know deal with

young people and we are not really going

to be able to have any solution to the

issue of child labor to the fact they

have to keep the economy running right

and we have all these grandiose plans

make in India scale India this and that

but there's really no actual solutions

on how to make that happen so by having

children by legitimizing children who

are basically legalizing children's work

which is almost payment in our be

underground work you are finding ways to

make it possible to meet all the

grandiose targets yourself by using

children soon and I made that happen

we want to get pointers you know the

bottom of the pyramid for the textile

industry it used to be the southeast

really want to do that and the young

people of our country I want to drive

that so that I think is a bigger problem

which is the real macroeconomic issue

behind the whole child labor act so we

cannot see it as just a child as a

children back to clearly linked to

something larger child labor is very

useful for the economy whether we like

it or not that's the type and eight we

have kids Benetton rule so the employer

doesn't pay taxes so everything that I

employ is black money I mean to put it

simplistically again to stretch the

truth but they don't have lank accounts

they don't have the kids no no and our

cards they're in the literally invisible

and they continue to be that when was

the last time you saw child working when

was the last time you did something

about it imagine imagine walking in a

world where no one calls you by your

name imagine walking in a world where

they all treat you the same

imagine being quiet with so much more to

tell imagine being invisible and wanting

to ask for help

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how do we what do we do now what is the

way to go ahead or are we just accepting

that this is the way children you know

about 14 I'm going to be and this is the

[Music]

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Oh

you