Santosh Gangwar, MoS (I/C) for M/o Labour & Employment has said that the children are future of the nation as such it is our responsibility to empower them by initiating appropriate steps. He felt confident that the measures is being undertaken by Government today will enable us to make our youth Aatamnirbhar in the days to come. Shri Ganwar said this while speaking at a meeting of Central Advisory Board on Child and Adolescent Labour through video conference yesterday. The Minister also said that the historic labour reforms through enactment of four Labour Codes will prove to be important milestone in the history of labour of country.The Minister expressed sincere commitment of the Government to end child labour which he said is priority of the Government. The Minister underlined that Child and Adolescent Labour, Prohibition and Regulation Act 1986, has been kept outside of the four Labour Codes so that the Act performs independently.
Shri Gangwar alerted against possibility of increase in the incidence of child labour in view of the adverse effect of Covid 19 on the economy. He, therefore, called for suitable action in this regard.The Minister also elaborated several steps taken by the taken by the Government towards removing child labour. This include significant game changer amendment in the Child Labour Law in 2016 so that children below the age of 14 are protected from work in any profession or process and adolescent children between the age of 14 and 18 are protected against employment in hazardous industry. Shri Gangwar also informed that National Child Labour Programme (NCLP) was working well for rehabilitation of child labour. He said that the stipend has been increased from Rs. 150 to Rs. 400 per month and being paid into the account of children through DBT. A PENCIL Portal has also been started for marking attendance online as also for implementing stipend payment system. Shri Gangwar also called for working on mission mode for rehabilitation of child especially in view of Covid 19