Implementation of NCLP
Government of India is committed to address the issue of elimination of child labour in all its forms beginning with children working in hazardous occupations & processes. For rehabilitation of child labour the Government is implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme since 1988. The major objective of the Scheme is to withdraw children in the age group of 5-14 years working in hazardous occupations and processes, and mainstream them into formal education system. Under the Project, children rescued/withdrawn from work are enrolled in the special schools, where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, nutrition, stipend, health care, etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system. So far approximately 9.67 lakh children have been mainstreamed in to formal education system under the project. Number of child labourers rescued, rehabilitated and mainstreamed through National Child Labour Project scheme during the last three years and current year, State-wise are annexed. Since children are forced to go to work due to poverty and deprivation, the problem is socio economic. Therefore, there has to be constant and consistent endeavour to make India child labour free country. There is no specific time frame for the Scheme as it is aimed at elimination of child labour.
Under NCLP Scheme funds are released to the NCLP Project Society at District level headed by District Magistrate/Collector, who in turn allocates the funds to the Child Labour special schools run by State Government Authorities/NGOs/Voluntary Organisations etc. Generally funds are released twice in a financial year. In the 1st installment approximately half of the yearly budget is released to the Society on examination of the Quarterly Progress Reports, Survey Report etc., and while releasing the 2nd installment the Utilisation Certificate, Audited Accounts and Annual Progress Report of last year, and QPRs of current year are thoroughly scrutinized. Sometimes the release of funds gets delayed due to non-submission of proper documents by the Project Societies. To facilitate timely release of funds, Ministry regularly holds meetings with Project Directors to hear their problems and guide them, nodal officers are frequently sent on tour to inspect the functioning of Project Societies and collect necessary documents, and in some cases State Labour Departments are asked to enquire various issue of Societies like verification of the claim of outstanding liability etc.
This information was given by Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shri Kodikunnil Suresh in the Rajya Sabha today in reply to a written question.
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