Question : Child Labour

(a)whether child labour is still prevalent in the country despite stringent laws in force in this regard and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise along with the reasons therefor;
(b)the details of the implementation of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme during the last three years in the country including the number of schemes implemented under the NCLP Scheme along with the total number of people benefited under these schemes, State/UT-wise;
(c)the total number of child labourers rescued and rehabilitated during the said period, State/UT-wise; and
(d)whether there are any welfare schemes for children working in unorganized sectors of the country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the other steps being taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a): Child Labour is an outcome of various socio-economic problems such as poverty, economic backwardness and illiteracy etc. As per 2011 Census, the number of main workers in the age group of 5-14 years in the country is 43.53 lakh which shows a decline from 57.79 lakh as per 2001 Census. The State-wise details are given at Annexure-I.
Contd..2/-
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(b) to (d): Government is implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of child labour. Under the Scheme, children in the age group of 9-14 years, rescued/withdrawn from work in any occupation and process, are enrolled in the NCLP Special Training Centres, where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, mid day meal, stipend, health care, etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system. Children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through a close coordination with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
At present NCLP Scheme is sanctioned in 280 Districts of 21 States in the country. As per the information received from the District Project Societies, at present about 2900 Special Training Centres (STCs) are in operation with an enrolment of approximately 1.12 lakh children under the scheme. As per the information received from District Project Societies, the number of child labourers rescued/withdrawn from work, rehabilitated and mainstreamed under NCLP Scheme during the last three years, State-wise and year wise; are given at Annexure-II.
Under legislative action plan, Government has enacted the Child & Adolescent Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 with effect from 1.9.2016. The Amendment Act, inter-alia, prohibits employment or work of children below 14 years of age in any occupation or process and adolescents (14-18 years) in the hazardous occupations and processes.
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