The study analyzes determinants of child activity with regard to schooling, working, or neither schooling nor working in the age cohort 5-14 years, using Punjab’s MICS 2010–11 data. It examines the role of household poverty, parental education, gender equity, and mother’s autonomy in shaping these decisions. Results show poverty strongly increases child idleness and reduces schooling, while parental education, gender equity, and maternal empowerment significantly improve school participation. The findings underscore multidimensional poverty as the most influential factor in household decisions on child activity.
