GS4 · UPSC Mains

In order to tackle climate change, green energy is touted as one of the best solutions. Countries are now replacing coal with hydroelectric power, fossil fuels with solar energy, petrol and diesel cars with electric vehicles (EVs). EVs are being pitched as a cleaner, greener and sustainable alternative. Electric cars use batteries, and lithium and cobalt are rare metals that make up these batteries. The cobalt in the battery keeps it stable and allows it to operate safely. Cobalt is used in about half of the electric cars, which is about four to 30 kilograms per battery. You are the District Magistrate of a district where cobalt is found in abundance. On a visit to one such cobalt site, you find out that children are employed in the mines and these children flirt with daily. They enter vertical tunnels that are too narrow for adults to enter and dig for cobalt under inhumane conditions in a furnace-like environment. Although, they sometimes use shovels, they typically dig with their bare hands. They are not provided with masks, gloves, work clothes and are only provided with 20 minutes of oxygen at a time. Yet, these young children dig for hours. Upon digging the rock, they crush it, wash it and then take their finds to the market in order to sell them. In this regard, answer the following questions: (a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the above case. (b) Despite the legal and institutional measures, discuss the reasons behind the prevalence of child labour in India. (c) In context of the given situation, what steps will you take to address the issue of child labour in the district? (Answer in 250 words)

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