Section Article

Child Labour and the Right to Education: Legal vs Ground Reality
Author(s): Arun Dubay

Abstract
Despite constitutional guarantees and legal prohibitions child labour remains a persistent challenge in India undermining the right to education for millions of children. This research paper critically examines the contradiction between the legal framework safeguarding childrens rights and the lived reality of child labour in India. It explores the historical context socio-economic factors legislative measures implementation gaps and the intersection of poverty caste gender and regional disparities that continue to perpetuate child labour. By juxtaposing the legal ideal with empirical realities the paper reveals that legislative reform alone cannot eradicate child labour unless accompanied by structural interventions in education livelihoods social security and awareness. The analysis concludes by suggesting a rights-based community-driven and context-sensitive approach to bridge the gap between law and practice.