Child labour: S Delhi reveals its ugly side

It may house some of the most affluent people in the city and lay claims of being the most socially-progressive district but two out of 10 people in south Delhi think that anyone over the age of 10 is not a child. Mallica Joshi reports. Survey results

It may house some of the most affluent people in the city and lay claims of being the most socially-progressive district but two out of 10 people in south Delhi think that anyone over the age of 10 is not a child.

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This and many other surprising figures were thrown up by a survey of 1,575 employers conducted by NGO Child Rights and You (CRY) on the attitudes and beliefs about child labour.

According to the report, a number of respondents believed that only an individual under the age of 10 years is considered a child. This number was 12.8% in south west Delhi and 6.3% in New Delhi.

"These figures suggest that all these people would possibly have no hesitation in hiring a child as young as 10 years. Not only this, many people consider that a child should not only study, but work as well," the study read.

Around 18% respondents in New Delhi and 14% respondents in central Delhi responded that children should study as well as work simultaneously. 56% of the respondents said they know of children in their locality who do not go to school, while more than 70% said that those children who do not go to school are working to earn a living.

About half of the city's population believes that children can work as much as adults. Their salaries, however, are much lower than their counterparts.