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Synopsis Child labour is a significant problem in India. The prevalence of it is shown by the child work participation rates which are higher in Indian than in other developing countries. The country is the largest example of a nation plagued by the problem of child labour. Estimates cite figures of between 60 and 115 million working children in India – the highest number in the world. Within the Indian context, the issue of child labour is widely seen as a manifestation of poverty, and the child’s contribution to the household economy is seen as vital to meeting the basic needs of poor families. This book addresses the nature, extent and conditions of child labour in India. It brings together a range of perspectives concerning the causes of and solutions to the problem. The approaches to combat the evil, constitutional and legislative steps taken, action programmes initiated and the role of international bodies in ensuring rights of the child and elimination of child labour, etc., are elaborately described. It will be of interest to development organizations, NGOs and human rights activists, as also to students of law, sociology, economics, public administration and development studies.