The Hindu : National : “Extremely high prevalence of child labour in Rajasthan”

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“Extremely high prevalence of child labour in Rajasthan”

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Labour Watch has drawn the attention of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to the “extremely high” prevalence of child labour in the desert State and the lack of effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, as well as the laws against child trafficking and child marriages.

A delegation of the Labour Watch met the Commission’s Member, Deepa Dikshit, during her visit here over the week-end and demanded a complete ban on child labour and effective steps for protection of children’s rights through the establishment of task forces in each district.

Labour Watch convenor Govind Beniwal pointed out that the figures released by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) after its 61st round recently had put 34.88 lakh children between 5 and 14 years in Rajasthan in the child labour pool.

“A staggering 22.8 per cent of children in this age group in the State are labourers,” he said.

The delegation called upon the Commission to recommend an increase in the age of children to 18 years for their inclusion in the child labour category and exert pressure on the Union Government to augment budgetary allocations for children.

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