(a) whether the Government has finalised a proposal for social audit of those exporting industries which could be vulnerable to international bans on grounds of employing child labour with a view to eliminate child labour from these industries;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the time by which such audits are likely to be conducted; and
(c) the regulations currently in place to ensure elimination of child labour particularly from export-oriented industries?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF 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 PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 258 FOR ANSWER ON 17.03.2008 REGARDING SOCIAL AUDITS FOR ELIMINATION OF CHILD LABOUR.
(a) to (c): While there is no specific proposal for social audit in export oriented industries, with a view to eliminating child labour from such industries, necessary steps are taken under the existing laws to prevent child labour in prohibited occupations and processes.
For the rehabilitation of Child Labour, Government is implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme in 250 districts of the country which includes districts with high concentration of child labour in export oriented industries. Under the Scheme, Children withdrawn from work are admitted to Special Schools where they are provided with accelerated bridging education, vocational training, stipend, nutrition and health care facilities etc. Further, various export promotion councils have been requested to raise awareness campaigns as part of an action plan among their member-industries for the elimination of child labour.