An evaluation of the socio-economic conditions of child labour in Motor transport workshops in Tripura

In Tripura the number of motor vehicles has been increasing rapidly, from 58,581 in the year 2001 to 2, 94,472 lakhs in the year 2015. Accordingly the number of motor transport workshops is also increasing very rapidly. As a corollary, number of motor transport workers is also increasing in proportion to the number of workshops. But unfortunately, children below the age of 14 years of age constitute a sizeable number of the labour force. These children come from poor families; not only that, most of them are school dropouts. These workshops provide employment to many people; including boys below the age of 14 years. They eke out a living and add to the income of their families. The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961 and The Apprentices Act, 1961 prohibit the engagements of children below the age of 14 years in such workshops. A field survey has been conducted in the motor workshops of Agartala, Tripura; it has revealed a pathetic picture. In the eye of law, such engagement is illegal; but considering the socio-economic conditions of these families, such engagement is not immoral. It has a positive side also. It prevents unemployment. It checks crime rate. The children gain considerable occupational specialization and adaptability to the realities of life. Some of them become technicians, drivers and owners of vehicles in the course of time. Majority of the respondents were not willing to work, some of them are interested to go back to schools, but financial problems and motivation by the parents force them to work. There is a need to enhance the educational facilities of children and employment opportunities for adults.