NHRC to hold workshop on 'Bonded and Child Labour' tomorrow

New Delhi, June 26 (UNI) Concerned over the persisting problem child labour across the country, the National Human Rights Commission will hold a national workshop on 'Bonded and Child Labour' tomorrow to discuss measures to eradicate the menace.

The workshop, to be inaugurated by NHRC chairperson Justice S Rajendra Babu, will also discuss other issues related to child labour, including constitutional provisions, bonded Labour System (Abolition Act) and disowning by states the existence of bonded/child labour.

The other topics include centrally sponsored Schemes, convergence of schemes for meaningful, permanent and effective rehabilitation, special problems on identification, release and rehabilitation of migrant bonded labourers (adults and children), child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, National Child Labour Project, State Level Monitoring Committee, district and sub divisional level Vigilance Committees and orientation and Training of Members of Vigilance Committees and Magistrates.

Delegates will comprise Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry Secretary, Labour and Employment Ministry secretary, Chief Secretaries and Labour Secretaries of all the states and Union Territories.

In spite of the continuing efforts of the Commission child labour still persists in most of the States in India, an NHRC spokesperson said .

''This is continuing despite several pronouncement of the Supreme Court and sincere efforts of the social action groups and activists,'' she said.

''The Commission has been urging the Government to re-write the Child Labour laws by viewing the issue from the perspective of the "Convention of the Rights of the Child", 1989, which has been ratified by India and our own constitutional provisions of Article 21, 39 (e), 39 (f) and 45,'' she added.

The Commission wants the issue should be addressed on priority as now free and compulsory education has been made a fundamental right of every child up to the age of 14 years, she said .

''In this field, the Commission feels that State Governments can take appropriate steps to ensure cent percent enrolment and retention of school going children, which will be a lasting solution to the problem of child labour,'' she added.

Since 2003, NHRC has been organising a number of workshops on the subject in association with the Ministry of Labour and State Governments for district magistrates and other State Governments officials.

The workshops came out with recommendations which include immediate financial relief of Rs 1000 to each of the identified and released bonded labourers, prosecution to be launched in all cases of bondage, comprehensive survey to be carried out to determine the magnitude of the incidence of child labour and convergence of work done by Government Department and NGOs.

UNI