Question : National Child Labour Project

(a)the salient features and the current status of the National Child Labour Project Scheme;
(b)the details of funds allocated, released and utilised by various States thereunder during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(c)whether the Government has received any complaint about the misuse of the funds allocated under the said scheme during the said period;
(d)if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon, State/UT-wise; and
(e)the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for proper monitoring and better effective implementation of the scheme in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a): Government is implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of children withdrawn from work. The major objective of the Scheme is to withdraw children from work and mainstream them into formal education system. Children rescued/withdrawn from work in the age group of 9-14 years are enrolled in the NCLP Special Training Centres, where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training,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). The NCLP Scheme also envisages awareness generation campaigns against the evils of child labour and enforcement of child labour laws. At present the scheme is sanctioned in 270 Districts of 21 States in the country.
Contd..2/-
:: 2 ::
(b): Grant released under NCLP Scheme State wise during last three years and current year is given at Annexure.
(c) & (d): A complaint was received from Shri Hari Manjhi, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Gaya during 2013-14 alleging misuse of funds released to National Child Labour Project (NCLP) at Gaya by the concerned authorities. However, District Magistrate, Gaya refuted all the allegations as false. Subsequently Shri Manjhi withdrew his complaint stating that he was misled by some people against NCLP, Gaya.

(e): A Central Monitoring Committee under the Chairpersonship of Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, has been set up for the overall supervision & monitoring of the National Child Labour Projects. State Governments have also been advised to set up State Level Monitoring Committees similar to the Central Monitoring Committee. At the District level, Project Committees have been constituted under the Chairmanship of District Magistrate/Collector to implement and monitor the National Child Labour Project. Further, as per the revised NCLP guidelines, a provision has been made to set up District level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (VMC) under the chairmanship of local Member of Parliament.