Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu is known for its manufacturing clusters on firecrackers and matches. The local economy of the area is largely dependent on firecrackers industry. It has led to tangible economic development and improved standard of living in the area. So far as child labour norms for hazardous industries like firecrackers industry are concerned, International Labour Organization (ILO) has set the minimum age as 18 years. In India, however, this age is 14 years. The units in industrial clusters of firecrackers can be classified into registered and non-registered entities. One typical unit is household-based work. Though the law is clear on the use of child labour employment norms in registered/non-registered units, it does not include household-based works. Household-based work means children working under the supervision of their parents/relatives. To evade child labour norms, several units project themselves as household-based works but employ children from outside. Needless to say that employing children saves the costs for these units leading to higher profits to the owners. On your visit to one of the units at Sivakasi, the owner takes you around the unit which has about 10–15 children below 14 years of age. The owner tells you that in his household-based unit, the children are all his relatives. You notice that several children smirk, when the owner tells you this. On deeper enquiry, you figure out that neither the owner nor the children are able to satisfactorily establish their relationship with each other.

→ Stakeholders are:-

• children
• families
• contractors
• Manufacturers
• District Magistrate

a) Various ethical issues involved here are:-

i) Right to Livelihood v/s Right to childhood of children - The children are deprived of their education, sports etc to contribute to family business.

ii) evading responsibility by legal loopholes - contracting out, outsourcing of responsibility as well as accountability.

iii) fudging of annual reports to show nil child labour.

iv) Treating children as means for propagating their own interests (Deontology)

b) As the district Magistrate of area, my actions will be guided by:-

constitutional norms - Fundamental Rights (Article 24 that bans child labour) legal laws, rules regulations Rule of Law compassion, integrity, social Justice.

The approach of the problem will be to:-

i) Eradicate child labour in law as well as spirit.

ii) Having clarity in laws & ensuring there are no legal loopholes present.

iii) Penalising the ones taking advantage of legal loopholes.

iv) Ensuring no child labour in future by effective monitoring.

v) Awareness & IEC campaigns to spread awareness & sensitisation of people.

The main elements of action would be:-

i) Knowing and understanding as well as verification of report stating child labour and the extent to which it is practised in the district.

ii) Have a legal team of legal experts to scrutinise the given laws and find the loopholes. They must also give recommendation for their amendments. Implement them accordingly.

iii) Fundamental root of problem is combustible substance manufacturing being centre of economic activity. Ensuring alternative means of livelihood.

iv) skill development of families involved through skill India Mission etc, or by involving manufacturers to train them as a part of csr.

v) Incentivise school attendance of children by mid day meal scheme, certificate of appreciation, sensitisation of parents.

vi) community participation - for effective monitoring, socialisation practises, vigilance, awareness generation etc.

vii) Effective regulation of manufacturers, outsourcing companies - Giving them a warning first not to deploy child labour & penalisation if not complied.