Incidence of child labour on the decline, RS told
Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 22
As per 2011 Census, the number of main workers in the age group of 5-14 years in the country is about more than about 43 lakh which shows a decline from more than 57 lakh as per 2001 Census.
This was stated by Union Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
Child labour is an outcome of various socio-economic problems, such as poverty, economic backwardness, illiteracy, Gangwar said, adding that under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, there is a provision for complete prohibition on employment of children below 14 years.
It also prohibits employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes.
The Minister further said after strengthening the legislative framework through amendment in Child Labour Act, the government has framed Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017, which, among others, specifies the duties and responsibilities of state governments and district authorities to ensure effective enforcement of the provisions of the Act.
The government has also devised a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as a ready reckoner for trainers, practitioners and enforcing and monitoring agencies and the same has been forwarded to all states and UTs.
To ensure effective enforcement of the provision of the Act and smooth functioning of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme a separate online portal PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) has been developed. The portal connects Central government to state governments, districts and all the District Project Societies.
Also, the Ministry has instructed all the concerned states where NCLP Scheme is sanctioned, to form State Resource Centre (SRC) under the chairmanship of State Labour Secretary, which could monitor the enforcement of the Act, coordinate for the rescue of children and adolescents, child tracking system and supervise all the functions through PECIL portal.
