Central Advisory Board on Child Labour calls for steps to ensure safe future of children

New Delhi, Jan 21 (ANI): Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Mallikarun Kharge, while chairing the first meeting the newly constituted Central Advisory Board on "Child Labour", called for furthering the steps to seek a safe future of children in the country.

Showing his concern over the seriousness of the issue of child labour, Khargetated that the Government of India is committed towards elimination of child labour in any form.

"Child Labour is an area of great concern and Government of India is committed towards elimination of Child Labour in any form. In pursuance of the National Policy on Child Labour, the National Child Labour Project (NCPL) Scheme was started in 1988 to rehabilitate Child Labour. This is the major scheme for the rehabilitation of the child labour," said Kharge.

"Under the Scheme, children withdrawn from work are admitted into special schools where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, stipend of Rs. 150/-, Mid-Day Meal, health care, etc. Beside this the Ministry is also operating Grant in Aid Scheme for Child Labour," he added.

Kharge further stated that funds to the extent of 75 percent of the project cost, were being directly released to the NGOs for elimination of the Child Labour in the districts where opening of NCLP School was not feasible.

The minister also informed that there has been a 45 percent decline in trend of economically active children in the age group of 5-14 years in India.

"As per NSSO survey 2004-05, there were 90.75 lakhs working children in India. This has come down to 49.84 lakhs as per NSSO 2009-10 survey which shows a decline by 45 percent," he said.

During the meeting, Kharge also mentioned the government's plan to bring an amendment in the existing Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 to further strengthen it.

Members of Parliament, along with several representatives of labour union, NGOs, bureaucrats attended the meeting. (ANI)