Government initiatives for Child Labour

Government of India initiatives in eradicating Child Labour in India:

1. Right to Education Bill: The government of India proposed the Right to Education bill in 2009 and implemented it at the grassroots level in India to eradicate the child labor.

2. Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS): As a continuation to the adoption of the National Policy for Children (1974), the Government of India developed the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, popularly known as ICDS.
• Building the foundation for physical, psychological and emotional development of the child.
• Improve nutritional and health status of children below six years of age.
• Reduce the rate of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropouts.

3. Rehabilitation of Children Working in Hazardous Occupations: On August 15, 1994, the government of India launched another program to eliminate child labor from hazardous working conditions. Special schools have been set up for their rehabilitation in which they are provided with education, vocational training, monthly stipends, nutrition and health-checks.

4. Establishment of National Authority for the Elimination of Child Labour (NAECL): The National Authority for the Elimination of Child Labour (NAECL) was established on September 26, 1994 to eliminate child labor from India. The major initiatives of the programme are as follows:
• Child labour policy programs and formulations.
• Designing the programs, projects and schemes for eliminating the child labour from gross root level.
• Coordinating various child labour related projects among different government departments and ministries.

5. National Child Labour Project (NCLP): In 1988, the government of India launched the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) as a pilot project in nine districts with a motto to eradicate child labour. The children enrolled in this program were provided with formal and informal education, vocational training, and also a monthly stipend along with supplementary nutrition and health care. Initially it was started in nine districts and spread to 100 in the ninth 5-year plan and 250 in the tenth 5-year plan.

6. International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC): IPEC is a global programme launched by the International Labour Organisation in December 1991. India was the first country to join it in 1992 by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ILO.