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This paper reveals the extent, forms and causes of pervasive child poverty in contemporary India. Child poverty in India is multifaceted. The occurrence of child marriage in India in large magnitude is an issue of concern. Child sex ratio, defined as number of female per 1000 male in the age group of 0-6 years, consistently exhibits a declining trend. Regional disparity in child deprivation has been brought to light by India's official statistics. A large number of children in India suffer from severe malnutrition. Large-scale child mortality is a blemish on democratic India. Household survey undertaken in a cluster of villages in West Bengal in 2011-12 finds household poverty as push factor for occurrence of child labour in home- based tobacco work. Dependence of the families on child labour income must be stopped through economic empowerment of child labour families. Self-employment programme and wage employment in public works for the adult members can significantly reduce the dependence on child labour income for family sustenance. Compulsory and free quality education for all children should be provided along with free health care and nutrition at schools. Public action, therefore, must focus on elimination of child poverty. Anti-poverty programmes should be child-focussed.
Keywords : Human Capital, Child Marriage, Child Poverty, Engel's Ratio.
Introduction
Child poverty is the state of child deprivation caused by poverty that stands as a barrier to attaining decent childhood. Millions of children in this world are born to poor families, to poor neighbourhoods and communities and to poverty-stricken world regions. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are homes to majority of world's poor children. In the emerging economies of the contemporary world, child poverty is mounting on the back of escalating income-inequality. But this state of affairs would set off massive loss to humanity in future. Children of today will build the course of human destiny in their impending turns as adults. They hold the key to peace and prosperity of mankind of future. A nation's destiny would be shaped by the children of the present. They would contribute to nation building when they would be adults. Ironically, not all adults can take part in that great task. Adults have to be capable, intelligent, healthy, trained and educated enough to take up the...