New Delhi, Aug 7 (KNN) The Government is keen to amend the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act which covers prohibition of working of adolescents in mines, explosives and hazardous occupations set forth in the Factories Act.

“Government is amending Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986. The bill covers prohibition of working of adolescents (14 to 18 years) in mines, explosives and hazardous occupations set forth in the Factories Act, 1948 and suggested more strict punishment for the offenders,” said an official statement today.

Further, the bill covers complete prohibition on employment of children below 14 years and linking the age of the prohibition with the age under Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act.

In order to speed-up the rehabilitation of the child labour, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has reviewed the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) scheme to make it more child friendly.     
           
The project aims at rehabilitating children in the age group of 9-14 years withdrawn from hazardous occupations. The children rescued are provided with bridge education, vocational training, nutrition, stipend, health care etc for a maximum period of three years before being mainstreamed into the formal educational system.

As per 2001 census, the total number of working children between the age group 5-14 years in the country was 1.26 crore. As per National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) survey conducted in 2009-10, the number of working children is estimated to be 49.84 lakh which is a 45 per cent reduction in the said year.    

Meanwhile, the amendment bill has been introduced in Rajya Sabha and is under examination. (KNN/GUNJ)