(a)the number of persons accused/reportedly responsible for employing child labourers in the country during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
(b)the number of such persons against whom action has been taken along with the outcome thereof;
(c)the number of persons against whom action has not been taken along with the reasons therefor; and
(d)the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent child labour in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 341 FOR 27.3.2017 BY SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE AND SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV, HON’BLE MP REGARDING CHILD LABOUR:
(a) to (c): The Child & Adolescent Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 inter-alia provides for complete prohibition on employment or work of children below 14 years of age in any occupation or process and also prohibits employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes. The employment of children or adolescents in contravention of the provision of the Act is a cognizable offence. Labour being in the concurrent list, enforcement of the provisions of the Act is the responsibility of both central and state governments in their respective sphere. As per the information received from the State/UTs, a total of 708344 inspections have been carried out during last three years (2014 to 2016). Out of which, 6920 prosecutions and 2200 convictions have been made. The details of action taken against the contravention of the provisions of the Act during the last three years, State /UT wise, are given at Annexure.
(d) Government is following a multi-pronged strategy for elimination of child labour. It comprises of statutory and legislative measures, rehabilitation and universal elementary education along with convergence with other schemes for socio economic development. Besides legislative measures, Government is implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of child labour since 1988. The major objective of the Scheme is to withdraw children from work and mainstream them into formal education system. Under the Scheme, children rescued/withdrawn from work in the age group of 9-14 years are enrolled in the NCLP Special Training Centres, where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training,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 Scheme also envisages awareness activities against the evil of child labour and enforcement of Child Labour Law.