Shanta Sinha gives out a call for a National Campaign to amend Child Labour Act for complete elimination of child labour in India.

It is indeed a shame that India is the home to the largest number of child labour in the world today. Millions of them are joining the labour force in the wake of globalisation, especially in the informal sector in gross violation of their basic rights to childhood, education and equal opportunities. New economic policies and inadequate laws have contributed to the growing numbers of children in work, even though the existence of child labour is in total contradiction to the fundamental right to elementary education for all children. We will agree that no development is possible at the expense of such intense exploitation and drudgery of children.

The major flaw in the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 is that it prohibits child labour only in certain listed hazardous industries and excludes 98% of children who are engaged in work from the purview of the Act. In fact, by doing so the Act justifies and legitimizes child labour. The campaign is mainly to focus on an amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 to prohibit all forms of child labour. It is imperative that the government's initiative of drafting the bill on free and compulsory education must take cognizance of the inextricable link between the total abolition of child labour and children's right to education.

Alarmed at the predicament of children in the country several hundreds of NGOs, voluntary organizations, networks, alliances, child rights protection forums, local bodies and others, across different regions and states in the country have got together for a National Campaign to amend the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. Our demand is that the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 be amended to ensure that there is a total abolition of child labour for right to education is possible only when children are in school and not at work. The government's initiative of drafting the bill on free and compulsory education must take cognizance of the inextricable link between the total abolition of child labour and guaranteeing children's right to education. We need to continue to exercise pressure on the government to recognize this fact and address it. We must bring pressure on the government to amend the Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 that shows a full commitment to the total abolition of child labour in the country.

As part of the campaign, efforts are on to contact and bring on board persons from all walks of life, including our elected representatives. We plan to launch the campaign in Delhi (India International Centre Annexe, Lodhi Road) on the 14th July 2005 at 3 pm to involve more and more individuals and organisations in the campaign and put public pressure on the government. We request you to participate in the campaign launch.

For more details, contact: M.Venkatarangaiya Foundation
201, Narayan Apartments, West Marredpally, Secunderabad - 500 026.
Tel : 91-40-27801320, Fax : 91-40-27808808

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