When does a child become an adult?

Till what age should a person be regarded as a child legally? At 18 years when,according to the Hindu Marriage Act,a girl can marry,or 14 years when...

Till what age should a person be regarded as a child legally? At 18 years when,according to the Hindu Marriage Act,a girl can marry,or 14 years when,according to the Child Labour Act,a person can start work. While the Supreme Court directed the government two years ago to come out with a uniform definition of a child,it seems no closer to arriving at a figure.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights NCPCR,which constituted a committee last year with representatives from Human Resource Development and Labour Ministries to redefine an upper age limit for childhood,seems to have hit a wall. According to sources,while the NCPCR is of the view that anyone below the age of 18 be legally considered a child,the Labour and HRD Ministries have shot down the proposal.

The NCPCR is a signatory to the UN Convention on Rights of the Child UNCRC,which pledges in its preamble to protect the rights of anyone under the age of 18. The commission has been urging the government to accept the UNCRCs definition of a child for prevention of child labour and to ensure right to education.

According to Article 1 of the UNCRC,a child means every human being below the age of 18 years unless,under the law applicable to the child,majority is attained earlier. The Article,however,grants individual countries the discretion to determine by law whether childhood ceases at 12,14 or 16 years,or whatever age is found appropriate. The proposal to have a universal definition did not receive a consensus.

But the Labour Ministry has its objections. According to sources in the ministry,the NCPCRs proposal has been turned down as increasing the age limit from 14 years to 18 would lead to an increase in clandestine employment. The focus should be on the most vulnerable age,which is 9-14 years. We believe that increasing the age limit would lead to greater exploitation, said a source.

The HRD Ministry too fears that expanding the age limit to 18 would dilute its focus on 9-14 years of age for right to education. Article 21 A of the Constitution directs the state to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of six and 14. Defending their call to amend the definition of a child,NCPCR Chairperson Shantha Sinha says: By 18 years,the capacities of children are evolved and they can take their own decisions.

AND WHO IS A SENIOR CITIZEN?

amp;149; According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,the National Policy on Older Persons recognises a person aged 60 years and above as a senior citizen.

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amp;149; Indian Railways provides 30 per cent fare concession in all trains for senior citizens aged 60 years and above.

amp;149; Indian Airlines provides 50 per cent senior citizen discount on economy class fare for all domestic flights to Indian senior citizens who have completed the age of 65 years in the case of male and 63 years in the case of female subject to certain conditions.

amp;149; The age of retirement of the High Court judges has been raised to 62.

amp;149; State government employees in Kerala retire at the age of 55,lowest in the country.

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amp;149; At present the retirement age for Central Government employees is 60.

amp;149;n In Madhya Pradesh,government teachers retire at the age of 62.