High Power Committee on Child Labour yet to meet since 2001

Bangalore, July 28 (UNI) The High Power Committee on Child Labour, constituted in 2001, is yet to meet once to take stock of the situation in the Karnataka where in so far 84,858 Child labours were identified and rehabilitated in the State.

In reply to a written question by Shashil B Namoshi (BJP), Minister for Labour B N Bachhe Gowda said that the Committee headed by the Chief Minister has not met since its constitution due to work pressure.

However, the government has made the Labour Minister to head the Committee and he will take necessary steps to convene a meeting shortly.

Mr Ugrappa (Cong) said that the Committee was constituted by Mr S M Krishna during his tenure as Chief Minister and it was also declared that the State would be made free from Child Labour by 2007 but the number of Child Labour was increasing and the government had not shown interest not only in eradicating the problem but the Committee constituted for the purpose has not met even once since its constitution eight years back.

V R Sudarshan (Cong) said that if Chief Minister could not hold the meeting, Minister for Labour could preside over the regular meeting to take stock of the situation and rehabilitation measures regularly.

The Minister said that 314 Rehabilitation schools for Child Labours identified were run by the Union Government, besides State was also running 36 such schools.

He said that the government had released a grant of Rs Six Crore every year since 2001.

UNI MSP/SR SKB1616