Commission to advocate changes to child labour law

Chennai, Apr 7 (UNI) The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights today agreed to advocate with the Centre, amendments to Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 to prohibit all children below 18 from employment and seek immediate intervention in passing a law providing free and compulsory education for all children in the age six-14 years.

Commission Chairperson and Ramon Magsaysay Winner Shantha Sinha at the same time called upon state governments to establish state commissions for protecting children's rights and children's courts with committed child rights advocates functioning as special public prosecutors.

This followed an interface with non-governmental organisations and child rights' activists here today, where they shared information with her about child labour in Tamil Nadu and poor progress of free and quality education and failure to implement Constitutional amendments on education.

The organisations said globalisation and privatisation had led to new forms of child labour in occupations and processes where children were not employed earlier.

Growing numbers of children were being trafficked within and outside Tamil Nadu and continuing decline of the girl child sex ratio due to proliferation of scan centres and clinics, despite laws, growing violence and abuse of children in schools and hostels were some key issues presented.

The Campaign Against Child Labour placed before the Commission that as per the 1991 census there were 5.78 lakh child labourers (up to 14 years) in Tamil Nadu and the 2001 census put this figure at 4.18 lakh.

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