Underage boys joining fishing crews in Karaikal, raise alarm on child labour

The Hindu

a day ago

On the eve of World Day Against Child Labour (June 12), activists and fisher communities in Karaikal have raised concerns over growing number of boys under the age of 18 dropping out of school to work on fishing boats, particularly in deep-sea operations.
The trend, evident across several coastal villages, highlights a silent crisis rooted in poverty, inadequate institutional support, and poor learning outcomes in government schools, according to activists.
The Hindu spoke to students who dropped out from Kottucherry Medu, Akkampettai, Mandapathur, and Kalikuppam fishing hamlets, who cited economic hardship, lack of interest in academics, and the allure of earnings as reasons for dropping out. 'Even though we're young, the elders treat us like equals. We share the earnings just like them,' said a 16-year-old from Kottucherry Medu who left school after Class 10. A Class 9 dropout from Mandapathur added, 'Many of our elders have degrees but still go fishing. So, I started early.'
Activists from the Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL) say the issue is being overlooked by both the School education, Fisheries and Labour departments. 'While it's common for children to be exposed to traditional livelihoods, unsupervised deep-sea fishing is illegal and hazardous. If a minor dies in an accident, families are not eligible for any compensation,' said Dhanalakshmi N, Zonal Coordinator of CACL for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. She added that absentee follow-ups by teachers are rare.
Prakash S, another CACL activist, referred to a recent community survey undertook by them found 28 widows in Akkampettai, 30 in Kalikuppam, and 23 in Mandapathur — all with sons under 18 currently working in fishing. 'Alcoholism and fishing-related accidents are the two leading causes of death in these households,' he said.
Mr. Prakash said, the educational fallout was stark. At Karaikal's V.O.C. Higher Secondary School — serving four major fishing villages — only four out of 30 students passed the Class 10 exam this year. While a few committed, teachers strive to bring students back to class, but the systemic gaps persist, he noted.
When contacted, a senior official from the Labour Department in Karaikal admitted their awareness campaigns are limited to urban areas. 'We don't currently have any targeted outreach in coastal villages, but based on these concerns, we will propose a special survey after consulting with the Puducherry government.' He also noted that employing minors was punishable by law with fines up to ₹20,000 and if the issue persists the employer can be imprisoned as well.