Governance in Meghalaya and growing child labour amidst rampant unscientific coal mining in an era of globalisation Synrem Altricia Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Ri- Bhoi College, Meghalaya, India Online published on 21 November, 2013. Abstract The developments that we are witnessing in the internationally marketing environment of today is the trend towards increasing economic interdependence and globalisation of markets. The present driving force of the market economy is the accumulative instinct which is essentially human avarice. The changed context is crucial to understanding the problem of child labour. For some sections of the society, globalisation has come as something of a bonanza. However the economic growth does not necessarily improve the well being of child labourers. The existing trends suggest that the lot of the disadvantaged and labouring masses especially children labourers has worsened during this period in the different states of India including Meghalaya. The problem of child labour in Meghalaya is getting more and more extensive every year with globalisation. The bulk of child labour in the state is engaged in coal mining. The magnitude of child labour is gradually growing in the deep mines. Child labourers are seen to be slogging in decrepit, dungeons called coal mines with earnings disproportionate to work loads. They work for a minimum of 12 hours per day. There is no job security. They are exposed to dangerous tasks without adequate protection. The result is disastrous. Soon, they start suffering from asthma, tuberculosis, skin diseases, besides of course even losing a limb or two while working. A research conducted by the Impulse NGO Network in 2010, claimed that 70,000 children are working as bonded labourers in the mines. BBC was the first to air this news and it attracted worldwide attention. Despite all the constitutional safeguards and clear cut policies to bring about the progressive elimination of child labour and stringent legislation matching it, the harsh reality in Meghalaya is that child labour in the coal mines continues to be in its most dehumanising form. The legislative framework and policy perspectives on child labour have apparently been lopsided and have failed to mitigate the miseries of children. Government of Meghalaya appears to be working in an ivory tower quite unaffected by allegations of grave misdemeanour. Very often the attitude adopted is that of nonchalance. The government can make laws against any inhuman activities but cannot implement because many political leaders running the government themselves own the mines where the children are exploited. The participation of children in labour force, runs contrary to the whole thesis of human resource development, which is essential for the overall socio- economic development of the state. The whole system, the inequitable socio- economic – political ambience is responsible for the plight of children. In the changing scenario of globalisation the time has come to give serious thought to the elimination of incidence of child labour in specified hazardous occupations and processes like coal mining. Combating exploitation is the immediate need of the hour. Top |