Child labour: NGO breaks new ground

Pune, Jan 22 (UNI) Here is reason to rejoice for those who have been up in arms against child labour for decades.

In an initiative which is the first of its kind, the India Sponsorship Committee (ISC) has launched what they call a crusade to raise awareness about its Child Labour-Free Certification Programme aimed at making Pune child labour free and replicating the model nationwide.

The campaign has been launched with the Action for Rights of the Child (ARC).

ISC Project Coordinator Audrey Ferreira told UNI that the main aim behind the campaign was to make the city free of child labour, adding that they would conduct audit and check if there were any children working with institutions, establishments during the drive.

''If we find that no child is working with them we will certify them as child-labourer free,'' she said.

In the last one year, 19 hotels and 14 housing societies have been certified as child labourer-free.

Speaking about their success in making schooling a reality for more than 2500 former child labourers from brick kilns in 11 years, she said, ''Around 11 children have already passed the SSC exams last year and another eight will appear this year.'' Amita, former child labourer, said she always wanted to go to school.

A group of children, who used to be child labourers, are now getting education under various educational projects of the ISC.

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