Bidar: Bidar and Chamarajanagar are part of the International Labour Organisation's ambitious project to draft a model child labour policy for all countries.

As part of the programme, experts will study the socio-political and economic dimensions of the problem. Number of child labourers and children out of school will be assessed.

Possible solutions will be explored. In the experimental phase, one of the solutions best suited to the prevailing conditions in a given country will be adopted. If found successful, it will be replicated across the country and outside. Based on this experience, a draft policy to face the challenges of child labour will be prepared.

This will provide broad guidelines to all the countries trying to eliminate child labour, India project co-ordinator Sanjiv Kumar said.

The programme also looks into the problem of employing those aged between 14 and 18. They are not banned from working but there is no system to provide them vocational training. All training courses admit youth above 18.

Therefore, children between 14 and 18 are forced to become unskilled labourers. "In this programme, we are trying to find ways to train these children to find gainful employment, Mr. Kumar said.

Coordinating agency

Bangalore-based Institute of Social and Economic Change is the co-ordinating agency for the programme. Prof. Rajshekar of the ISEC said the baseline survey of child labourers is in progress and expected to complete it before April.

In India, 10 districts in five States have been selected for conducting a baseline survey and for carrying out the pilot project. Bidar and Chamarajanagar are the districts chosen in Karnataka. The Italian Government is funding the programme.

A team representing the Italian Government visited Bidar on Saturday. It will visit Chamarajanagar on Sunday. Paula Viera from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said she was looking forward to a long-term relationship with India. Cicilia Brighei, president of the National Federation of Trade Unions in Italy accompanied her.

They visited vocational training institutes in and around the city and interacted with trainees at the agarbatti-making training unit in Naubad, sandalwood idol-making unit in Bakchowdi in Bidar taluk, the Zardozi sari craft unit in the fort city of Bidar and the NABARD-sponsored Bidri cluster training centre in Mailoor.

Deputy Commissioner Munish Moudgil and project officer Patawardhan were present.

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