Child Labour in India
Ban on employment of children as domestic servants or in roadside eateries (dhabas), restaurants, hotels, motels, tea shops, resorts, spas or in other recreational centers is in force from 10th October, 2006 under the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986.
The Government has enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 which came into force w.e.f. 1 September, 2016. The Amendment Act completely prohibits the employment of children below 14 years. The amendment also prohibits the employment of adolescents in the age group of 14 to 18 years in hazardous occupations and processes and regulates their working conditions where they are not prohibited. The amendment also provides stricter punishment for employers for violation of the Act.
Rehabilitating Children
The Labour Ministry has sought necessary support from the State Governments in enforcing the ban on employment of children as domestic servants. The ban is expected to go a long way in ameliorating the condition of hapless working children.
The Government is implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme since 1988 for rehabilitation of rescued children.
Development Projects
There are several other schemes and programmes being implemented by different Ministries and Departments to improve the overall status of the children of India. These include:
- Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS)
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
- National Rural Health Mission
- Pulse Polio Immunization Programme
- National programme for education of girls at elementary level
- Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya
- Mid-day Meal Scheme
- Integrated Programme for Street Children
- Integrated Programme for Juvenile Justice
- Shishu Greh Scheme
Statistics
As per 2001 census, the total number of working children between the age group 5-14 years in India was 1.26 crore. As per Census 2011, there are 43.53 lakh main workers in the age group of 5-14 years in India.