Profile of child labor in Indian railways.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the socio-medical profile of child workers in Indian railways.


METHODS
This was a prospective longitudinal survey over one year. The children up to the age of 14 y entering the reserved second class sleeper compartment of long distance trains in Indian railways were included. The data were collected regarding their profile by the investigators either by interviewing or observation as per situation in the moving train in a predesigned proforma. Data pertaining to the social, demographic and medical aspects were collected.


RESULTS
A total of eighty one children were noted in 22500 kilometers of train journey. Sex distribution (8:1) was unequal with males outnumbering females.


CONCLUSIONS
This study, first of its kind, attempted to delineate a distinctive socio-medical profile in a special group of children. It might, on the behalf of social pediatrics, increase the awareness and help the society to formulate a rehabilitation policy in collaboration with national and international organizations.
Department of Pediatrics, NBMCH, Darjeeling, India. rkm1971@indiatimes.com
Rakesh
R
Mondal
Sumantra
S
Sarkar
Somnath
S
Bhattacharya
Tapas
T
Sabui
Kalyanbrata
K
Mandal
Jayanta
J
Ghosh
Toshibananda
T
Bag
Nitish
N
Kumar
Madhumita
M
Nandi
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011890:Railroads / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires