Question : CHILD LABOUR ACT

(a) whether the Government has received the names of the States not pursuing the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 as reported in the ‘Rashtriya Sahara’ dated September 24, 2005;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether these States have not utilized the fund allocated to them for the welfare of child labourers;

(d) if so, the number of hazardous industries where child labourers are working, State-wise;

(e) whether all the States have since started the schools under Nationnal Child Labour Project; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI K. CHANDRASEKHAR RAO)

(a): No, Sir.

(b): Does not arise.

(c): Grants under the Scheme of National Child Labour Projects (NCLPs) are released directly to the identified child labour endemic districts. The utilisation of funds are monitored through the audited accounts submitted by the concerned districts.

(d): Under the NCLP Scheme, survey is conducted in the identified districts to find out the number of children working in hazardous occupations/processes which are specified under the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986. The number of hazardous industries in which child labourers are working are not maintained by the Ministry.

(e) & (f): The National Child Labour Projects (NCLPs) are selected by the Government on the basis of the endemicity of child labour. The Scheme was being implemented in 100 districts in 13 States till the 9th Plan. It has subsequently been expanded during the 10th Plan to cover 250 districts in 21 States of the country.