Peer-reviewed article
Child Labours in Manipur: A Case Study of Hotel Boys in Imphal Municipality Areas
Oinam Shantibala Devi ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study documents child labour in Manipur state, India, focusing on hotel boys working in Imphal Municipality areas. The report contextualizes the problem within global and national statistics, noting that India has the largest child labour population in the world at approximately 12.6 million children. Working children in these settings face hazardous conditions, excessive hours, unsafe work environments, and exploitation, with limited access to protection or support services.
Key points
- Globally, at least 120 million children aged 5-14 are fully engaged in work, with 61 percent found in Asia
- India has the largest child labour population worldwide, estimated at 12.6 million children
- Child workers are concentrated in agriculture, domestic service, and urban informal sectors, placing them at high risk of maltreatment and denial of human rights
- Working children are frequently exposed to morally or psychologically damaging jobs with excessive hours and unsafe conditions
- The study specifically examines hotel boys in Imphal Municipality areas as a case study of child labour in Manipur
Limitations
The document provides background statistics and problem definition but does not present empirical findings, data collection methods, or specific outcomes from the case study itself. It is unclear what primary data was collected or what conclusions the study reached about child labour in Manipur specifically.
Abstract
The present study highlighted about the magnitude of child labours in Manipur particularly in Imphal Municipality areas. Child labour is a Universal phenomenon. While there is no accurate accounting of how many of the world?s children contribute to their families, or their own economic support, the number of working children is surely in the hundreds of million?s globally. Studies in some countries suggest that the number of street children is growing, just as the use of child labour continues to expand, often in hazardous and damaging conditions. Working children are frequently exposed to jobs that are morally or psychologically damaging, hours that are excessive, conditions that are unsafe, or employment contracts that are exploitative. Also, the activities in which child workers are concentrated- agriculture, domestic service, and urban informal sector- place them at high risk of maltreatment, denial of basic human rights, and lack access to those who could help them. According to recent experimental surveys carried out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Bureau of Statistics, world over, there are at least 120 million children between the age of 5 and 14 who are fully at work, and more than twice as many of those whom work is a secondary activity. Of these 61 percent are found in Asia, 32 percent in Africa and 7 percent in Latin America. India has the largest number of child labour in the world. According to a recent statement issued by the labour Minister, the number of child labour in India is about 12.6 million. The state with the highest child labour population in the country is Andhra Pradesh which has 1.66 million working children as per 1991 census. Other states where the child labour population is more than one million are Madhya Pradesh: Utter Pradesh and Maharashtra.