Mumbai, June 11, 2025: A recent nationwide telephonic assessment about perception of adults on child labour by child rights NGO, Child Rights and You – CRY revealed a sobering picture: while there was strong public awareness about child labour in the country, systemic challenges—like poverty, poor enforcement, and inadequate educational support—continue to push children into work. . Notably, 64.6% said they knew children in their community who were working.

The assessment gathered insights from 2,365 people across the country, predominantly youth: 47.6% were aged 18–21, followed by 13–17 years (21.8%) and 22–30 years (20.3%). Their responses show that India’s youth are highly aware and ready to take a stand on child rights, offering a powerful entry point for change.

As Kreeanne Rabadi, Regional Director, CRY (West), noted, “These findings remind us that awareness alone is not enough. What’s needed is deeper community involvement, stronger enforcement of laws, and collective action by schools, civil society, and government to ensure every child is in school, not at work.”

Poverty is the root, education the missing link

Significantly, economic distress and family pressure are forcing children out of school. The top drivers of child labour, according to participants, were poverty (34.2%), the need to support family income (28.6%), and family pressure (17.4%). Lack of access or interest in education was also mentioned, pointing to the need for improved learning environments and more meaningful engagement.

School retention incentives

Non-academic incentives like food and sport are considered crucial to keeping children in school.

83.2% said schemes like midday meals help reduce child labour. But even more—91.7%—believed that sports programmes could play a bigger role in keeping children engaged in school. A resounding 94.1% believed that education can break the cycle of generational poverty.

Suggestions for community action

Suggestions include awareness campaigns (22.1%), access to quality education (18.6%), financial support to families (15.2%), and stronger enforcement of laws (14.7%). Respondents also called for vocational training, better implementation of schemes, and stronger NGO partnerships.

Time to act 

The assessment reveals a population that largely understands child labour and its consequences. But unless poverty is addressed, support systems are strengthened, and enforcement becomes more robust, awareness alone would not be enough.  Hence, the time to turn awareness into collective, sustained action is now.

Representational photo. Credit: Pexels