The 2nd Regional Workshop on Child Labour for SAARC Member Countries yesterday (May 29, 2013)
began here in New Delhi. Inaugurating the three days long workshop Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shri. Kodikunnil Suresh said The persistence of child labour is one of the biggest failures of development efforts in the SAARC region. He said The situation today calls for a re-energized campaign against child labour. The directions for the future are clear. Mutually reinforcing action is required and we need to confirm and enlarge access to universal basic education. We also need to build a basic social protection floor.
The minister said India has believed that South-South Cooperation is the most important tool for all of us to solve our socio-economic problems. The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, that is harmful to their physical and mental development.
The minister said most every Member State in the SAARC region is a home to a significant number of child labour because worldwide 61% Economically Active Children exist in Asia and Pacific followed by 29% in Africa. The children who constitute a very large segment of our society, are our assets and our future. It is, therefore, an index of our national level of development, both societal and economic.
He said in the the last few years International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) projects have helped to lay the foundation of South-South Cooperation in the ILO. The member states need to take appropriate steps to assist one another in addressing the worst forms of child labour.
Shri Suresh said through training and technical exchange, social partners and governments from different countries and regions have benefitted through sharing of experience on how policy and commitment can be turned into concrete actions for elimination of child labour. He said we need to promote productive employment opportunities for parents in order to set families on the route out of poverty and children out of child labour. This integrated approach is vital to securing a significant and lasting impact and social dialogue to ensure that all these efforts are sustained on elimination of child labour.
The minister said new estimates presented in the ILO 2010 Global Report on child labour showed a mixed picture, suggesting some progress but also cause of concern. Child Labour continued to decline but only modestly.The Global report showed a decline from 222 million to 215 million, or 3 percent (2004-08). He said to accelerate the pace of decline and there is a need to respond to the challenges of both traditional and emerging forms of child labour with renewed vigor. Hence, elimination of Child Labour is an act of faith and commitment on the part of every member state in the SAARC region, the minister added.
Also, a clear national policy against exploitation of children is the fundamental basis and point of significance for governmental action to combat child labour. Focus of policy should be on the range of interrelated factors like poverty, unemployment illiteracy, unawareness, underemployment that constitute the economic reasons of child labour. He said we appreciate the references made in the Global Report about India’s efforts and achievements to end child labour.
The minister said Government of India had embarked on a holistic and robust multi-pronged strategy to tackle the problem of child labour. It comprises of statutory and legislative measures, rescue and rehabilitation, universal primary education along with social protection, poverty alleviation and employment generation schemes. The objective is to create an environment where families are not compelled to send their children to work. Due to all out efforts of Government of India, there is a decline in trend of economically active children in the age group of 5-14 years in India. As per NSSO survey 2004-05, there were 90.75 lakhs working children in India. This has come down to 49.84 lakhs as per NSSO 2009-10 survey which shows a decline by 45 per cent, the minister stated.
He said our Constitution provides for protection of children from involvement in economic activities and vocations unsuited to their age. Accordingly, The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 has been enacted to ban employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories, mines and hazardous employments. Presently there are 18 occupations and 65 processes that are specified under the Act where employment of children is completely prohibited. He said the employment of children as domestic workers and in shops, restaurants etc. has been prohibited since 2006. The Act regulates the working conditions of the children in employment where they are not prohibited from working.
The Minister gave an account of the steps taken so far. These include:
Adoption of a National Child Labour Policy in 1987 consisting of Legislative action, Focus on General Development programmes for the benefit of families of Child Labour and Project based action plan in areas of high concentration of child labour.
Under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme child labour withdrawn from work are provided education and vocational training, stipend and mid-day meal. They are then mainstreamed into the formal education system.
Under the Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) of our Ministry is providing vocational training to the children passing out of NCLP Schools after completing the bridge education.
Making the Right to Education a Fundamental Right for children under the Constitution.
Every child in the age group of 6-14 years is to be provided free and compulsory education The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act came into force on 1.4.2010 to facilitate implementation of this right.
He said, India being a Welfare State and a developing country has various schemes for the upliftment of the downtrodden like Mid-Day Meal, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), National Child Labour Project Scheme (NCLP) and Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).
Also, National Policy on Skill Development has been launched to create a workforce empowered with improved skills and knowledge to gain access to decent opportunities of employment. In addition, Government of India is committed to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. Legislations have been enacted to abolish bonded labour, prevent child trafficking, illegal trading in narcotic drugs and administration of juvenile justice.
India is in process of amending the Child Labour prohibition & regulation, Act and amendments proposed will enable Govt. of India to ratify ILO Conventions 138 and 182.
In the context of child labour free world by 2016, we feel that the process of elimination of child labour goes beyond ratifications; it is more a question of adequate socio-economic responses and deep political engagement keeping in view the national conditions. Every one present here has to play an important role.
He urged all member States to work towards open, constructive and collaborative action against child labour for effective results and increased success.
He said we have to stop and eradicate child labour because children are our future. It is the endeavour of the Government to ensure that all children must occupy their legitimate place in the schools and not workplace. Hence, In an effort to eliminate child labour from the Country we all must put in combined efforts to strike at the root cause of child labor and Convergence of Welfare Schemes is the best way to distribute the fruits of economic development.
A world without child labour is within grasp. Many countries are on the right track, and they are experiencing success. Yet there needs to be a reawakened sense of urgency so that the elimination of child labour becomes a worldwide reality.
The other speakers included Ms. Tine Staermose, Director, ILO DWT for South Asia; Ms. Constance Thomas, IPEC Director, ILO; Mr. Ibrahim Zuhuree, Director, Social Affairs, SAARC Secretariat;Sri. Manish Chauhan, OSD, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Sri.A. C. Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment; Sri. V.P. Yajurvedi, Director General, VVGNLI, delegates from SAARC countries like, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan and India.
Courtesy: pib.nic.in (Press Information Bureau)
The minister said India has believed that South-South Cooperation is the most important tool for all of us to solve our socio-economic problems. The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, that is harmful to their physical and mental development.
The minister said most every Member State in the SAARC region is a home to a significant number of child labour because worldwide 61% Economically Active Children exist in Asia and Pacific followed by 29% in Africa. The children who constitute a very large segment of our society, are our assets and our future. It is, therefore, an index of our national level of development, both societal and economic.
He said in the the last few years International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) projects have helped to lay the foundation of South-South Cooperation in the ILO. The member states need to take appropriate steps to assist one another in addressing the worst forms of child labour.
Shri Suresh said through training and technical exchange, social partners and governments from different countries and regions have benefitted through sharing of experience on how policy and commitment can be turned into concrete actions for elimination of child labour. He said we need to promote productive employment opportunities for parents in order to set families on the route out of poverty and children out of child labour. This integrated approach is vital to securing a significant and lasting impact and social dialogue to ensure that all these efforts are sustained on elimination of child labour.
The minister said new estimates presented in the ILO 2010 Global Report on child labour showed a mixed picture, suggesting some progress but also cause of concern. Child Labour continued to decline but only modestly.The Global report showed a decline from 222 million to 215 million, or 3 percent (2004-08). He said to accelerate the pace of decline and there is a need to respond to the challenges of both traditional and emerging forms of child labour with renewed vigor. Hence, elimination of Child Labour is an act of faith and commitment on the part of every member state in the SAARC region, the minister added.
Also, a clear national policy against exploitation of children is the fundamental basis and point of significance for governmental action to combat child labour. Focus of policy should be on the range of interrelated factors like poverty, unemployment illiteracy, unawareness, underemployment that constitute the economic reasons of child labour. He said we appreciate the references made in the Global Report about India’s efforts and achievements to end child labour.
The minister said Government of India had embarked on a holistic and robust multi-pronged strategy to tackle the problem of child labour. It comprises of statutory and legislative measures, rescue and rehabilitation, universal primary education along with social protection, poverty alleviation and employment generation schemes. The objective is to create an environment where families are not compelled to send their children to work. Due to all out efforts of Government of India, there is a decline in trend of economically active children in the age group of 5-14 years in India. As per NSSO survey 2004-05, there were 90.75 lakhs working children in India. This has come down to 49.84 lakhs as per NSSO 2009-10 survey which shows a decline by 45 per cent, the minister stated.
He said our Constitution provides for protection of children from involvement in economic activities and vocations unsuited to their age. Accordingly, The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 has been enacted to ban employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories, mines and hazardous employments. Presently there are 18 occupations and 65 processes that are specified under the Act where employment of children is completely prohibited. He said the employment of children as domestic workers and in shops, restaurants etc. has been prohibited since 2006. The Act regulates the working conditions of the children in employment where they are not prohibited from working.
The Minister gave an account of the steps taken so far. These include:
Adoption of a National Child Labour Policy in 1987 consisting of Legislative action, Focus on General Development programmes for the benefit of families of Child Labour and Project based action plan in areas of high concentration of child labour.
Under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme child labour withdrawn from work are provided education and vocational training, stipend and mid-day meal. They are then mainstreamed into the formal education system.
Under the Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) of our Ministry is providing vocational training to the children passing out of NCLP Schools after completing the bridge education.
Making the Right to Education a Fundamental Right for children under the Constitution.
Every child in the age group of 6-14 years is to be provided free and compulsory education The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act came into force on 1.4.2010 to facilitate implementation of this right.
He said, India being a Welfare State and a developing country has various schemes for the upliftment of the downtrodden like Mid-Day Meal, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), National Child Labour Project Scheme (NCLP) and Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).
Also, National Policy on Skill Development has been launched to create a workforce empowered with improved skills and knowledge to gain access to decent opportunities of employment. In addition, Government of India is committed to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. Legislations have been enacted to abolish bonded labour, prevent child trafficking, illegal trading in narcotic drugs and administration of juvenile justice.
India is in process of amending the Child Labour prohibition & regulation, Act and amendments proposed will enable Govt. of India to ratify ILO Conventions 138 and 182.
In the context of child labour free world by 2016, we feel that the process of elimination of child labour goes beyond ratifications; it is more a question of adequate socio-economic responses and deep political engagement keeping in view the national conditions. Every one present here has to play an important role.
He urged all member States to work towards open, constructive and collaborative action against child labour for effective results and increased success.
He said we have to stop and eradicate child labour because children are our future. It is the endeavour of the Government to ensure that all children must occupy their legitimate place in the schools and not workplace. Hence, In an effort to eliminate child labour from the Country we all must put in combined efforts to strike at the root cause of child labor and Convergence of Welfare Schemes is the best way to distribute the fruits of economic development.
A world without child labour is within grasp. Many countries are on the right track, and they are experiencing success. Yet there needs to be a reawakened sense of urgency so that the elimination of child labour becomes a worldwide reality.
The other speakers included Ms. Tine Staermose, Director, ILO DWT for South Asia; Ms. Constance Thomas, IPEC Director, ILO; Mr. Ibrahim Zuhuree, Director, Social Affairs, SAARC Secretariat;Sri. Manish Chauhan, OSD, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Sri.A. C. Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment; Sri. V.P. Yajurvedi, Director General, VVGNLI, delegates from SAARC countries like, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan and India.
Courtesy: pib.nic.in (Press Information Bureau)
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