Published Paper Details:

Social exclusion is related to disadvantage and deprivation in society. Although, it is associated with marginality, closure, dissatisfaction, dispossession, deprivation and destitution. In the Indian context, it highlights lack of distributive justice, caste based distances and discrimination, unequal access to opportunities, weak policies of the society. The poor sections in society are excluded group in terms of life chances and dignity and they experience dehumanization in all walks of their life. Child Labour is one such category which is largely excluded from the mainstream of society and they are denied basic rights. Despite passing of Right to Education Act, many such children are deprived of education. Child labour means that children are forced to work like adults and take part in economic activity. According to the ILO, the term child labour is applied to people up to age thirteen, or seventeen in case of dangerous work. Child labour has been an international concern because it damages, spoils and destroys the future of children. The problem of child labour is a serious matter not only in India but also in other developing countries. Children are the hope and future of a nation. Yet, there are millions deprived children in our country who have never known a normal, carefree childhood. The present paper is an attempt to study socio-economic and health profile of children involved in labour activities. Based on primary data of 25 child labour in Chandigarh using interview schedule method, the paper will study the nature and extent of problems of child labour and their coping mechanisms. The study will recommend some steps to ameliorate the conditions of child labour for their social inclusion.