Government is taking
various steps to check the economic exploitation of child labourers
in the country. Employment of children below the age of 14 is
prohibited in 13 occupations and 57 processes listed in the
schedule to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation)
Act, 1986. The Central and State Governments are monitoring
the enforcement of the child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation)
Act, 1986 in their respective spheres. Employers found employing
children in Occupations and Processes prohibited under the Act
are prosecuted under the provisions of the Act.
The Government
of India has been implementing two schemes for the benefit of
child labour withdrawn from work, namely the scheme of National
Child Labour Projects (NCLPs) and the scheme of Grant-in-aid
to Voluntary Organisations. Under these schemes, special schools,
centres have been set up with provision for non-formal/formal
education, vocational training, nutrition, stipend and health
care etc. So far, NCLPs hve been sanctioned in 100 districts
in 13 child labour endemic states for coverage of 2.11 lakh
children.
This information
was given by the Minister of State for Labour Shri Vijay Goel
in reply to a question by Shri Dwijendra Nath Sharmah in the
Rajya Sabha today.
