Andhra Govt to implement child labour act

Hyderabad, Oct 9: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Labour, G Vinod today said the State Government would strictly implement the provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986.

Addressing a press conference here along with the Minister for School Education N Rajyalakshmi, he said the notification issued by the Centre declaring domestic and hospitality sectors as hazardous occupation by way of inclusion in the schedule of Child Labour (Prohibition and regulation) Act 1986 was a revolutionary step towards total elimination of child labour.

Noting that said the notification would come into effect from tomorrow, he said the launching programme had to be organised in a big way in all the district headquarters and at the state headquarters.

The minister said that their were 16 lakh child labours in state.

Ms Rajyalakshmi said the government had been rehabilitating the child labour in the state through organising Residential Bridge Course Schools (RBCs) and Non-Residential Bridge Course Schools (NRBCS). The government had been spending Rs 6,200 per child in the RBCs and Rs 1,200 for the children in NRBCS per year, she added.

She said poverty elimination and rehabilitation of child labour was also important for the success of the act's provision.

She said the department was planning to conduct vocational training course for the children from eighth class to tenth class on various fields for self emplolyment and for their betterment after education.

UNI