You have a son who is only 8 months old. Your in-laws have sent a small girl about 10 years to help your wife in taking care of your son. The girl is actually a neighbour of your in-laws and has been helping your wife when she was in her home after childbirth. The girl is a school dropout and belongs to a very poor family having 5 children. It was her parents who insisted that she comes with you as they would be less burdened and that she would have better food and nutrition. Your wages for the girl would also help the poor family to maintain their other children. Your wife has developed a liking for the girl and has also become dependent on her. (APSC CCE Mains 2024, GS-4)
Questions:
- What is the dilemma faced by you? What are the expectations and interest of different stakeholders that are contributing to your dilemma?
- What, in your opinion, is the most appropriate course for you so that nobody’s interest is very adversely hurt?
The case presents a conflict between my public duty as an Additional SP enforcing child labour law and my private family situation where a 10-year-old girl is being used for domestic childcare. As a public servant, I cannot condemn child labour outside and tolerate it inside my own home. The principle of integrity demands consistency between public action and private conduct.
(a) Dilemma faced by me
- Conflict between law and family convenience
- I have recently closed three brick kilns for violating the Child Labour Act.
- However, a minor girl is now working in my own house, creating a serious contradiction between my official role and personal life.
- Legal duty vs emotional attachment
- My wife has developed affection and dependence on the child.
- Yet, emotional bonding cannot justify violation of the child’s right to education, childhood and dignity.
- Compassion for poverty vs protection of child rights
- The girl’s parents want her to work because the family is poor and has five children.
- However, poverty cannot become a moral justification for child labour. It demands welfare support, not exploitation.
- Public credibility vs private compromise
- If this becomes public, it will destroy my moral authority and weaken enforcement action against others.
- A civil servant must not only be honest but also appear honest.
Stakeholders, expectations and interests
- The 10-year-old girl
- She needs food, care, education, safety, dignity and childhood.
- Her best interest lies in rehabilitation and schooling, not domestic work.
- Girl’s parents
- They expect financial support and reduced household burden.
- Their interest is survival, but their decision may harm the child’s long-term future.
- My wife
- She expects help in childcare and emotional support.
- She also feels attached to the girl, but she must recognise the child’s legal and moral rights.
- My son
- He needs proper care, but not at the cost of another child’s childhood.
- Myself as Additional SP
- I must uphold law, integrity, impartiality and ethical leadership.
- I must follow the principle: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
- Police department and society
- They expect me to enforce child labour law without hypocrisy.
- My conduct should set an example for other officials.
(b) Most appropriate course of action
- Immediate removal from labour
- I will stop using the girl for childcare immediately.
- I will explain to my wife and in-laws that employing a 10-year-old child is illegal and unethical.
- Protect the child’s welfare
- I will not abruptly send her back without support.
- I will arrange her safe return only after assessing her family condition.
- Education and rehabilitation
- I will coordinate with the Child Welfare Committee, District Child Protection Unit, Labour Department and Education Department.
- I will help enrol her in school or a bridge course under relevant child protection and education schemes.
- Support without exploitation
- I may support her education, books, uniform or nutrition through legal and transparent means.
- I can connect her family with welfare schemes, PDS, health services and livelihood support.
- However, I will avoid making her dependent on my household as a worker.
- Alternative childcare
- I will arrange an adult caregiver or trained domestic help for my son.
- This protects my family’s genuine need without violating child rights.
- Institutional integrity
- I will use this case as a reminder during police sensitisation that child labour often hides behind poverty and domestic sympathy.
- Enforcement must combine law, compassion and rehabilitation.
Conclusion
The most ethical course is to immediately end the child’s work, protect her education and support her family through lawful welfare channels. This solution respects the girl’s rights, addresses the family’s poverty and preserves my integrity as a public servant. In child labour cases, compassion must not become an excuse for exploitation. Rather, it must become a path to rehabilitation.
