Published Paper Details:

2.Abstract Child labour remains a pressing socio-legal issue in many developing nations, particularly India, where millions of children are denied their fundamental rights to education, health, and a safe childhood. This paper critically examines the phenomenon of child labour through a socio-legal lens, highlighting how economic compulsions, systemic failures, and cultural acceptance contribute to its persistence. Despite the existence of robust legal frameworks such as the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, and constitutional guarantees like the Right to Education (Article 21A), enforcement remains inconsistent and often ineffective. The study investigates the multifaceted causes of child labour, including poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and lack of social security, and analyses its long-term consequences on national development. It explores the judicial interventions, policy measures, and the role of civil society in combating this social evil. Through qualitative analysis and secondary data review, the research highlights how child labour undermines human capital formation, weakens economic growth, and perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality. Furthermore, the paper offers strategic recommendations for policy reforms, effective enforcement, education-based rehabilitation, and stakeholder collaboration. The findings stress that the elimination of child labour is not merely a legal obligation but a national imperative for inclusive, sustainable development. The paper concludes by calling for a holistic, rights-based approach to restore childhoods and secure the nation's future.