ESSAY ON POPULATION AND CHILD LABOUR

10. DO PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN WORK? OR DO CHILDREN WORK BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN?
INTRODUCTION
The population explosion is a huge challenge for all the developing nations. With the phenomenon of population explosion there arise several other socio, political and economic problems such as shortage of resources to meet the needs of the people, the education, employment and the care for the young and older generations. The socio economic conditions of the people of the developing nations are such that the young and the old have early and extended life of work respectively. The search is why there are so many children in developing nations? Unlike in the developed nations the children have to work and join the adults in being a productive member of the family. In this essay we will look for the correlation between population and child labour.
Accepting the phenomenon of the high population growth in the developing countries and the prevalence of children at work in most of the developing countries, it would be argued that high fertility with low mortality rate is an unavoidable period in the demographic transition. And this period is marked with high population growth which introduces the discussion of development in the context of demographic transition. Later it would be argued that to meet the increased material needs of the household even those who are out of productive age are involved in production, which is also supported by the particular society.
POPULATION EXPLOSION
The United Nations population projection for 2050 (UN 2005) say that the population growth would be faster than expected a few years earlier. The world population for 2050 would be at 9.1 billion people. The annual additions to global population are 34 million persons from the current 76 million. The growth rate would have to 0.38 percent per annum. The IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) express that there is about 85 percent chance for the world`s population to stop growing before the end of the century. (Alexandratos, 2005:237).
Asia`s populations has grown from 1.7 to 3.9 billion people in the last 45 years. The projections for year 2050 are to an expected population of 5.2 billion people. The projected increase in Latin America and the Caribbean is to 0.78 billion. The end of the era of population growth is expected in Asia and Latin America. It is due the different family planning information and services which was provided to the people in a culturally acceptable and sensitive manner. The modern contraceptive methods were effectively used even by the poorest and least literate countries (Cleland and Sinding, 2005:1899). India and other South Asian countries are an example to this fact.
In Africa from 1960 the population has been growing in the sub-Saharan region from 225 million to 751 million people. It would reach 1.69 billion by 2050. There are still another group of countries with high fertility rates whose populations are expected to treble by 2050. The countries with high fertility rates are Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Somalia and they will grow up to 40 million each. Uganda which is also with high fertility rates will grow up to 127 million from just 29 million people. The population scientists express that sub-Saharan Africa would follow the other poor countries in the decline of birth rates. (Cleland and Sinding, 2005:1899) And with the African continent`s decline of birth rates the population growth would be stopped by the end of the century.
Each country was making an enormous effort to control the population growth with and aim of reaching growth and development. Every country set aside a huge size of funds for this purpose for the information and application of several available modern methods of family planning. In the process there was a shift from late marriage to the use of contraceptives.
Investment on family planning was with the hope that the social and economic progress would be fostered. Decline in birth rates would foster poverty alleviation efforts. It was in this sense that the rising prosperity in East Asia is attributed to the effects of falling birth rates. There was good funding aid for the family planning programmes of Asia and Latin America. The international funding and commitment has reduced which has not resulted reduced birth rates though the countries have policies and programmes for it (Cleland and Sinding, 2005:1900).


DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION
Human populations do not tend to grow naturally. Population growth is characteristics of certain types of society at certain periods of their developments. The reproductive behaviour is generally regulated by all known societies by marriage patterns, and conscious and deliberate practices of child birth even within marriages arising from customs and religious beliefs. For example in Tamil societies in India there are period when the married couples are not permitted to have sexual union. The female infanticide is a cruel practice of reducing children who seem ‘burden’ to the parents in raising them and getting them married. And therefore it is not the question of whether there is fertility control but a question of how much or how effective. (White, 1982:591) So there were supposed to be fluctuations in it which populations grow high at a particular point of time.
The demographic transition takes places with the decline of death rates first and decline of birth rates next. And there will be the population growth in between. This is always the rule. And all the countries have to go through these stages. Europe had this experience in the last two centuries. The crude death rate began to decline even before the birth rate. And so there was a high population growth during the nineteenth century. The decline of mortality coincided with the industrialization which fostered the decline of birth rates too. Chile and India are going through these stages now as did Europe (Dyson, 2001:70-71). And therefore we can assume that the history repeats itself now in the case of the developing nations.
We could apply this principle to the developing nations with high population growth. They are still in the first stage of the demographic transition. And it is not surprising that the developing nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America the death rates declined later than in the case of Europe. It may be attributed to the availability and the applications of health initiatives and technological practices. It has been also recognised that the mortality and fertility decline in the developing countries would happen in progressively poorer settings. The demographic transition is a long period of remarkable disequilibrium of population growth during which the birth rate adjusts to the death rates because of the new mortality regime (Dyson, 2001:71). This explains the growth of Population in the developing world. During this period it becomes the challenge of the nation to balance growth and development with the population explosion.
POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The contended theory of Malthusian view on “checks’ that the population cannot outgrow beyond food supply and that there must be always some checks against human reproduction are resolvable into moral restraint, vice and misery. He observed that the preventive checks of human efforts in reducing population would never be sufficient and there would be natural checks such as famine, epidemics and extreme poverty would occur to stop the population growth. And he concluded poverty and misery would be outcome of population growth. But his theory was criticized by many in as the productive force that increases as part of the growth populations will take care of the subsistence issue. Engels said that there was confusion with means of subsistence with means of employment. And Marx that there is no universal law of population for human being but only for animals and plants. He explained it as labour which is source of all value and the process of capitalism and the continued generation of labourers. So it could be concluded that population growth is not the cause of poverty but poverty and the production conditions are the cause of population growth. This argument was affirmed in the Population conference of 1974. Later the Neo-Malthusian Critiques have argued that Population growth, and population pressures are the main causes of technological, economic, social and political progress in the human history. (Lecture of Ben White).
Demographic changes have high impact on the socio-economic development of a nation. The attainment of low death rates, improved health and the achievement of low fertility are all important dimensions of development. Health and hygiene, the access and use of affordable contraceptive methods involve a greater attention in the process. And it is a challenging task in the poor countries. Moreover the achievement of below replacement fertility does not imply that the population stops growing suddenly. But on the other hand it means that the young population age structure has a considerable population momentum. And that is the reason of China`s fertility though well below the replacement, yet has an increase in the size of population. It is projected to increase from 1.31 billion to 1.45 billion over 2005-2030. Likewise the population of sub-Saharan, the Middle East and South Central Asia will also increase substantially. (Lecture of Andrew Fischer)
Urbanization is an important part of the Demographic transition. The whole world is urbanizing. The developing nations are in the process of urbanization. The reason behind this process is mortality decline. The history of Europe was in the same way in their process of development. The industrialization and the urbanization occurs all part of the world. The rural life will gradually fade. (Lecture of Andrew Fischer). The urban life has its own specific needs and requirements to be fulfilled. The families move to the urban areas for search of livelihood. The material needs of the family are far greater than that was in the rural area.
CHILDREN IN LABOUR REGIME
During the period of high population growth there is a growing need of high material needs. The consumption is increased as there are more consumers in the household. And everyone in the household is expected to give ones share. And so the question of involving others who are out of productive age are included which consists of young and older generations. That leads us to the next argument of children as workers.
Children`s contribution to the family was an argument for children to work. In many of the agricultural families and in other works where the whole household is involved the children join the elders in work. This is very much in the poverty stricken families. This is a common sight in all the third world countries such as African countries, South American and in Asian Countries. Countries like Bolivia, Nigeria, Tanzania, India, and Pakistan and in other countries children join the families in earning income. The girl children are engaged in household chores and act as baby sitters or taking care of the siblings (Ansell, 2006:70). The children become producers in bringing income to the family`s economy.
The instant need for material needs for existence makes production an inevitable activity. The children and women are means of production. The control over them is ensured through norms and structures that are legitimated by ideology, rituals, etc. That control is exercised by the elders as they possess the means of existence on which younger generations are dependent until they can produce their own. This rule by the elderly is called gerontocracy which is observed in most societies. Therefore it is a productive condition (Kamuzora, 1984:106) to which the whole community is forced to adhere to including the young and the old. The younger generation begin their productive period ‘early’ and the older generation are forced to ‘extend’ their productive period. When they do not turn as producers they are ‘burden’ to the society (Lecture of Ben White).
There is also an argument from the balancing of ‘cost - benefit’ analysis with several material and non-material considerations on each side. The material values of children are their labour for the household chores and their economic contribution to the family and more especially their support and security when their parents are old. The material costs are child bearing and rearing and the direct cost of investment on child`s health, education, and other allied expenses. The non-material values include psychological, spiritual and emotional aspects. The non-material costs may be the worry about children and pains involved in the process. The non-material benefits are the personal or generational lineage continuity, the feeling of security in time of need and the emotional happiness of one`s offspring (Kamuzora, 1984:106-7). The values in bearing children differ accordingly.
A minimum increase of material goods and services necessary for survival is the assumption. The quantity of these depends on the household production and the market exchange of household labour or production. This process poses a continual high demand for labour by the household. This leads to a demand for children in the family or high fertility whose labour can be used for the purpose (Kamuzora, 1984:108). This is an experience in all the developing countries.
Land, labour and capital are the three factors of production in a rural economics. The survival of rural family depends on these resources. The imbalance of population over the resources leads to tension. There arises a higher demand for labour. The social institutions find way of resolving it to gain the lost income. The only way is to extend the duration of the existing labour force. When this is not met the children are given early work or the old are given an extended productivity period. children attending school of from poor families is a loss of labour leads to a state that children`s material returns to their family are lower than their cost (Kamuzora, 1984:118). This explains the reason for children out of school to fill the labour requirements. And it is a common sight in the developing countries to see children work as full timers and part timers contributing to the income of the family.
WORKING CHILDREN
Working children develop self confidence and earn respect because they are self reliant and productive already when they are young whereas the other children are still dependant on the elders and exhibit dilemma in their choices. Working children develop skills not only in the area of work but also in the social life. It is also belief that hard work forms children as good and responsible adults. Ansell. 174. Children paying school fees by the income that they earn.
If we say that children in household work are child labours then child labour would be omnipresent. But when we permit children in household activities in farming or petty businesses and home industries then children in such activities would again be questionable because it is a full time activity which brings added income to the family. And again work for the family is more demanding in terms of responsibility and time. Ansell.163. The children in farming cattle have a work schedule which last the whole day and even to late at night.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR
It is rejected as Euro centric idea that work is not good for the child. But argue that work is an integral part of child`s formation. It is argued that they have a right to work. When enquired children most children expressed that they wanted to work added with better conditions and better payment. If their right to express opinion is respected then their right to work should be respected. Many children in Bangladesh are proud that they are able to support their family, that their income is helping the family`s rent, food or even the education of their siblings. (Ansell. 172, 3) Children in South India where I worked expressed that they cannot continue the education when the family is struggling to survive and that their family conditions compel to join the parents in bringing income to the family. The parents argue that the education which is given in the school is useless and does not prepare children for life to take up employment. The educated unemployment is a big argument for the children to work. The feeling that the long education does not reward with job and the income to the family and the parents feel that it is good that the child learns a trade while earning an income already now.
Apprenticeships and trainings are acceptable to acquire skills but however it may lead to cheap labour. It is good also because they provide chances for socialization and training
Child labour is engaging children in work. Children are supposed to enjoy their childhood. Child labour is an unaccepted practice as seen by the west in the third world countries. Children across the world are engaged in different sorts of work. Each country has its own Acts and regulations in reduction, control and abolition of Child labour. There are regulations with regard to the age and the type of work the children can do. Generally it is up to the age of fourteen. There are also limitation as to avoid hazardous work in mining or construction or using heavy machinery, or exposed to hazardous health conditions including trafficking and prostitutions and pornography. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has given certain policies and guidelines for the international community to implement it. It defines Child labour as, “children undertaking productive work in the formal or informal sector, including unpaid, casual and illegal work, but not domestic chores within children`s own households”. (Ansell, 2006:160)
It is generally argued that children work due to poverty. This may be true in most of the poverty stricken families of the third world countries. The children work to add to the income of the family to meet the immediate economical needs of the family. But there are also other reasons such as education do not prepare the young people for employment. This is true of Indian society where the children in are made to work to learn a trade or a skill. (Ansell, 2006:169) There are also other reasons of culture in which the society believes that children should work and become responsible member of the family.
The Child Rights Convention (CRC) Article 32 says, “The right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child`s education, or to be harmful to the child`s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development”. (UN 1989).
CONCLUSION
In the above pages we have acknowledged fact of growing population especially in Asian, Sub-Saharan and Latin American countries. It would still grow up to the end of the century. It is because these countries are in the process of demographic transition. In the period between mortality decline and fertility decline there would be a high population growth as a rule as noticed in the history. We have also argued from the cost benefit point of view for bearing children.
We have also acknowledged the fact of child workers in the developing countries. We have argued that the population is not the cause of poverty, but poverty and the labour conditions. We have argued that the increase of household needs and the in the process of urbanization the needs involves the non-productive age group such as the young and older generations become part of the productive age group. For the children it would be an early productive period and for the older generation it would be an extended productive age. If they do not contribute their share then they become a burden to the household.
REFERENCES
Alexandratos, N. (2005) ‘Countries with Rapid Population Growth and Resource Constraints: Issues of Food, Agriculture and Development’, Population and Development Review 31(2): 237-258.
Andrew Fischer Class Lectures.
Ansell, Nicola. (2006) Children, Youth and Development Routledge perspectives on Development, New York: Routledge.
Ben White Class Lectures.
Cleland, J., and S. Sinding (2005), ‘What would Malthus say about AIDS in Africa?’ The Lancet, November 26, 2005. 1899 -1901.
Dyson, Tim (2001) A Partial Theory of World Development: The Neglected Role of the Demographic Transition in the Shaping of Modern Society. International Journal of Population Geography, Volume 7, Issue 2, Date: May 2001, Pages: 67-90.
Kamuzora, C. Lwechungura (1984) High Fertility and the Demand for Labour in Peasant Economies: The Case of Bukoba District, Tanzania. Development and Change Volume 15, Issue 1, Date: January 1984, Pages: 105-124.
White, Benjamin (1982) Child Labour and Population Growth in Rural Asia. Development and Change, Volume 13, Issue 4, Date: October 1982, Pages: 587-610.

PROGRAMME FOR DECEMBER

DECEMBER 2008

01 Mon: Application submitted to Irish Embassy for visa
02 Tue: Attended the talk of Omar Bhagoutri from Palestine on Boycott Opportunities. It was very inspiring on one who was engaged in Advocacy and Lobbying for the cause of Palestinians.
03 Wed: Tutorial on Agencies in Development and power point classes.
04 Thu: Attended a Inaugural addresses on REFLECTION ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES: Exploring Synergies, Eradicating Poverty and OF BUTTERFLY WINGS AND RAISED FISTS: Connecting complexity, aided development and civic Agency.
05 Fri: Mind mapping class. I got my visa to Ireland.
06 Sat: Sintaklas Day of Gifts. Game of Gifts was conducted.
07 Sun: My Day of Cooking.
13 Sat: Silver Jubilee of Elzaka at Katpadi. Amos, Stephen anna and Mercy husband attended it. I called and wished her. She was happy. I missed it and she too.
14 Sun: I went to Amersfort to the family of Mr.Francis, a srilankan tamil Christian.
16 Tue: There was a grand farewell for Bro.Leo aged 76 who was leaving for the Home. There were his family for the function. It was an unacceptable incident for me. But I realize that this is the way it is here.
18 Mon: Class on End notes class at ISS.
20 Sat: Left for Ireland. It was not a happy experience. Reached in the evening had a good time in the family of Florence akka and in the company of Casimir, who had arranged the programme in detail.
21 Sun: Mass in st.Catherine and lunch at fr.Alex (st.paul`s) community.
22 Mon: Trip to vicklo and visited the oldest of Ashram and the cemetery. Fr.Alex drove to the spot.
23 Tue: Visited Dublin City during evening in the city. A beautiful walk in the city with the family of Florence.
24 Wed: Attended the Christmas vigil mass in the parish in Ireland near St.Catherine.
25 Thu: We had mass with the tamil families in the house of kamal and Agastha.
26 Fri: We visited the shrine of Our Lady of Knock with fr.Alex and the Florence and Halin.
27 Sat: We visited the Port and the fish market in the evening. I saw seal in the sea. It was very cold.
28 Sun: I returned back to Holland. My 12 th Ordination Aniversary. I had private mass at 9.pm in the evening. Everybody called from home and they offered mass at Child Jesus church in the village. Elzaka too offered mass at Chennai in her parish.
29 Mon: Rested at home and prepared for Examinations.
30 Tue: Biju leaves for holidays to India.
31 Wed: The last day of the year. At midnight went out to witness fire and fireworks celebrating the New Year. The lakes were frozen and went walking on it.