(a) whether a large number of child labour is still working in Carpet and Glass Industry in
the country in violation of the rules and laws made in this regard;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to achieve complete eradication of child labour in the
country alongwith the success achieved therein?
MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 55 FOR ANSWER ON 19.11.07
REGARDING `CHILD LABOUR IN CARPET AND GLASS INDUSTRY` BY SHRI MADAN LAL SHARMA
(a) & (b): As per 2001 Census, 32,647 children in the age group of 5-14 years are
working in Carpet industry and 5,758 children in Glass industry. Child Labour is a
complex socio-economic problem, which needs sustained efforts over a long period of time.
Considering the nature and magnitude of the problem, government is following a gradual and
sequential approach of first covering children working in hazardous occupations/processes.
There are 15 occupations and 57 processes where employment of children is prohibited under
the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986, which includes Carpet weaving and
manufacture of Glass and glassware including bangles etc.
(c): Government is implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme in
250 districts of the country. Under the Scheme, children withdrawn from hazardous work
are put into Specials Schools, where they are provided with accelerated bridging education,
vocational training, nutrition, stipend and health care facilities etc. In addition,
government is also implementing the Indo-US child labour project (INDUS) in 21 districts
of the country. Under the NCLP Scheme, 4.57 lakh children and under INDUS Project 27,533
children have been mainstreamed into formal education system, so far.