Rehabilitation of Child Labourers

Ministry of Labour & Employment has been implementing National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of child labourers through District Project Societies under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate.  Under the NCLP scheme, the children in the age group of 9-14 years are rescued / withdrawn from work and enrolled in the NCLP Special Training Centres (STCs), where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, mid-day meal, stipend, health care, etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system. NCLP scheme has now been subsumed under Samagara Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Scheme. 

As per the information received from the District Project Societies, as on 31.03.2021, 1225 Special Training Centres in 59 districts were operational for rehabilitation of 33573 child labourers enrolled there. State/UT number of districts and number of Special Training Centre (STC) operational as on 31.03.2021 is at Annexure-I.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment, in March 2020, issued advisory to all District Magistrates/Chairman of NCLP to review and assess the situation in the district in respect of COVID-19 and accordingly decide operation/suspension of STCs and project societies in the district so as to prevent spread of COVID-19.

Under NCLP scheme, the Ministry of Labour & Employment provides grant in aid to District Project Society which in turn releases to the concerned implementing agencies for operation of Special Training Centres. The details of grant –in aid released under NCLP Scheme State-wise during the last five years 2016-17   to 2020-21 is at Annexure –II.

The Government is pursuing multipronged strategy to eliminate child labour and has taken comprehensive measures which include legislative measures, rehabilitation strategy, providing right of free education and general socio-economic development so as to eliminate the incidence of the child labour. The details of statutory and legislative measures, rehabilitation strategy and education are as under:

1. Government has enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 which came into force w.e.f. 1.9.2016. The amendment also provides stricter punishment for employers for violation of the Act and made the offence as cognizable.
2. Framing of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Central Rules
3. Framing of model State Action Plan enumerating action points to be taken by respective State Governments and circulation of the same to all Chief Secretaries.
4. Implementation of National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of child labour, which has now been subsumed under Samagara Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Scheme. 

COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all section of the society including children.    As per “Crime in India, 2020” a publication of National Crime Records Bureau, 464, 772 and 476 number of cases were registered during calendar year 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively under Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 in the country. State-wise details are Annexure-III.

ANNEXURE-I

Status of NCLP Scheme: Operational Districts and Special Training Centres as on Date 31.03.2021

ANNEXURE-II

Grant Released under NCLP Scheme State-wise during 2016-17   to 2020-21

                                                                                                                                      (Rs. in lakhs)

Annexure-III

Number of cases registered under Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, State / Union Territories -wise:

   Source: National Crime Records Bureau

This information was given by Shri Rameswar Teli, Minister of State, Ministry of Labour & Employment in Lok Sabha today.

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BY/IG