The Hindu : National : Commission for enforcing right to education

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Wednesday, Sep 12, 2007
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Commission for enforcing right to education

Special Correspondent

Proposal given for abolition of child labour

Middle-class the largest employer of child labour
Commission looking into condition of observation homes

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked the Government to implement the right to education to help in child labour abolition.

“We have given the Planning Commission a proposal detailing strategies for abolishing child labour in the 11th Plan, based on our meetings with various governments and non-governmental organisations,” Commission chairperson Shantha Sinha told reporters here on Tuesday.

The chairperson said the commission was planning to get in touch with corporate houses to impress upon them the need to eliminate child labour in their supply chain. The issue would be taken up with the national and multinational companies.

Even banks have been approached and asked to put it a condition before approving loans that no child labour was employed by them.

The need was to have a voice in favour of children and make children’s rights, including that of free and compulsory education, a priority.

Once the right to education is enforced, laws relating to child labour would have to be firmed up, Ms. Sinha said.

Describing the middle-class as the largest employer of child labour, Ms. Sinha said there had to be “moral indignation” against employing children and creating awareness that children too have rights that need to be protected.

Children also need to be trained to protect themselves from physical and sexual abuse by adopting any suitable approach whether sex education or any other form.

The Commission was working on formulating a protocol to ensure that children were not denied their rights in disturbed situations such as violence, terrorism and natural calamities.

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