A LOST CHILDHOOD IN THE AROMA OF "AGARBATTI": THE CASE OF FEMALE CHILD LABOUR IN NORTH INDIA

• Published in: International journal of sociology of the family Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 31 - 51
• Main Author: HUSSAIN, SABIHA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serials Publications 01-04-2015
• Subjects: Child Poverty; Children; Economic Policy; Exploitation; Females; Homosexuality; India; Muslims; Rights
• ISSN: 0020-7667; 0973-2039; 0020-7667

It is a well-known fact that child labour denies children basic rights. The exploitation of children in the labour force further leads to the creation of an unskilled adult labour force, which ultimately results in early deterioration of health, economic insecurity, low quality of life and ultimately further poverty. The Government of India has been attempting to address the needs and rights of exploited children especially females, who are working in miserable conditions. This paper deals with the issue of female child labour in agarbatti (incense) rolling in the Gaya district of Bihar. The focus of the study is on two communities (i.e., the Muslim and Dalit of this region). The exploitation of a large number of female child labour in the agarbatti industry raises several issues related to various policies, laws/conventions and the societal mindsets related to the child labour. The paper is based on the primary data collected in 2008 and revisited in 2012.