Constitutional Provisions Relating to Children

Constitutional Provisions Relating to Children

(This article details with the various rights and safeguards provided for children under the Constitution)

1. Preamble
2. Fundamental Rights

• Article 14: Equality before law & equal protection of laws. It is available to every person including children.
• Article 15 (3): empowers the State to make special legal provision for children. It makes mandate to the government to ensure children’s welfare constitutionally.
• Article 21A: it mandates free & compulsory education for all the children in the age group of 6- 14 yrs.
• Article 23: puts total ban on forced labour and is punishable under the Act.
  Article 24: prohibits employment of children in hazardous factories below the age of 14yrs.; e.g.: mine, match industries etc.

3. Fundamental Duties

• Article 51 A Clause (k): the parent or the guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or as case may be ward between the age of 6- 14 years.

4. Directive Principles of State Policy

• Article 39 (e) – that the health and strength of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength
• Article 39 (f) – that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.

·         Article 41 –  Right to work, to education and to public assistance

• Article 45 – Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years
• Article 46 – Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections
• Article 47 – Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health

5. Official Language

• Article 350(A) – Facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at primary stage of education

6.Schedule Five

         7.Schedule Six

         8.Schedule Eleven

         9. Schedule Twelve