Synopsis Historically, the work performed by children was part of their socialisation process combining vocational training, education and recreation that ensured their physical, mental and social developments. The child labour, in contrast, is a recent phenomenon which is involuntary, exploitative and abusive in nature. The worldwide concern expressed towards unprecedented growth of the child labour and its damaging impact on the child population have provided ground for global efforts to contain and eliminate the problem of child labour. The lead in this direction was provided by International Labour Organisation which culminated in ratification of its many conventions by India, constitutional provisions legislative measures and programmatic interventions. These and similar other related issues concerning child labour remained the focus of the present book. In specific terms, it addresses to the conceptualisation of the term, nature, extent and conditions of child labour, 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.