Three-fold increase in allocation for elimination of child labour

New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) The government has allocated Rs 602 crore during the current Five Year Plan (2002-07), a three-fold increase from the previous Plan, to eliminate child labour.

The central allocation for the previous Plan was Rs 250 crore.

The government has also recieved financial help from the International Labour Organisation and UNICEF, according to Labour and Employment Ministry officials.

Besides, a 400-million dollar Indo-US joint programme is being implemented in Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi, the states where prevalence of child labour is high.

The UK government is helping a Rs 20 crore project in Andhra Pradesh while the Rs 15-crore project in Karnataka is getting the help of Italy.

''The government is committed to the goal of eradication of child labour in all its forms beginning with children working in hazardous occupations,'' said a Ministry official.

Under the National Child Labour Project of the central government, child workers who are released from factories and other workplaces are admitted to special schools. The project is underway in 250 districts spread across 21 states.

The children are also given vocational training, stipend and nutritious food to prepare them for mainstream schools.

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