New Delhi: Date: June 12, 2009 India needs a comprehensive child protection plan to tackle the problem of child labour. In the absence of a strong child labour rehabilitation action plan family’s economic situation and denial of education play vital role in the chain that perpetuates exploitation of children labour. Marking the 10 th anniversary of the World Day against Child Labour NGOs like Centre of Concern for Child Labour (CCFCL) and others have urged the govt. of India to design plans to strengthen the family’s capability to look after children. “Improving access to quality education, mid –day meals and basic amenities particularly in the rural areas and urban slums is a key to an effective overall approach,” said Joseph Gathia, CCFCL director said in a statement on Thursday. Nearly 22 million ( 11 million full time and 10 million art time ) children are engaged as labourers in India and most of them are found in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhad, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Some of the state governments have not created any official machinery to tackle the child labour problems. million are economically active. "A comprehensive programme for basic education and livelihood skills should be undertaken to address the needs of working children throughout the country. Only then we will be able to address the child labour issue effectively," said Joseph Gathia of CCFCL. International Labour Organizsation and the UNICEF in partnership with Indian government are implementing child labour eradication programme but they are not effective as the community has not been taken into confidence. The role of civil society is vital in this process, the statement said. According to International Labour Organisation, the worst forms of child labour are selling or trafficking children, the forced recruitment of child soldiers, using or offering children for prostitution or the production of pornography and using, procuring or offering children for illicit activities or any other activities likely to harm children. India is signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has supported ILO conventions related to elimination of child labour including Convention 182 concerning prohibition and immediate action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. (END)
