Question : FUNDS FOR REHABILITATION OF RESCUED CHILD LABOUR

(a) the number of child labour including bonded child labour in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, separately, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has allocated any specific funds for the rehabilitation of rescued child labour including bonded child labour;

(c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government proposes to hold regional and national meetings on the “rescue operations” for child labour; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?  

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES)  

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 38 FOR ANSWER ON 20.10.08 BY DR. R. SENTHIL; SHRI MAHAVIR BHAGORA REGARDING FUNDS FOR REHABILITATION OF RESCUED CHILD LABOUR.

(a) to (e): The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 does not differentiate between child bondage and adult bondage. The estimation of the number of child labour in the country State-wise, is done on the basis of the census carried out by the Registrar General of India once every ten years. The last such Census was carried out in 2001. Therefore, yearly data regarding existence of child labour State-wise is not maintained. State-wise number of child labour population as per 2001 Census is at Annexure – I. The Central Government is implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for the rehabilitation of children withdrawn from work. Under the Scheme, grants are released directly to the Project Societies chaired by the Dist. Collector. State wise details of fund released during 2007-08 is at Annexure II. Regional and National work shops and meetings are held from time to time with participation of State Government and other stake holders. State Governments are the appropriate authority for enforcing the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 for the areas coming under their jurisdiction. In order to step up the enforcement activities, a fortnight long nation-wide awareness campaign on “Enforcement Drive against Child Labour” was launched by the Government on 14th November, 2007 under which, the State Governments were financially assisted for taking up awareness campaigns. Further, a Protocol on Prevention, Rescue, Repartriation and Rehabilitation of Trafficked & Migrant Child Labour has also been issued to the State Governments to facilitate the rescue and rehabilitation of such children.