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Wednesday, Dec 05, 2007
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External social audits on child labour

Sandeep Joshi

Five labour-sensitive export promotion councils to conduct audit: Ramesh

EPCs to work with NGOs and social activists in the area
High-level meeting on child labour held in the Capital

NEW DELHI: The government, for the first time, has decided to allow external social audits on child labour.

It has asked the export promotion councils (EPCs) to prepare plans for child labour abolition in specific areas of geographical concentration, according to Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh.

At a press conference here, Mr. Ramesh said labour-sensitive EPCs of the apparel, handicrafts, carpet, sports goods and gems and jewellery sectors were asked to conduct annual external social audit on child labour under the labour laws and rules.

They were told to make the process completely transparent and submit completed reports at the earliest.

Mr. Ramesh said the councils were asked to work with NGOs and social activists active in the area of child labour abolition and involve themselves in on-going audits and checks to tackle the child labour menace effectively.

The EPCs were asked to prepare perspective plans for child labour abolition in specific areas of geographical concentration such as Varanasi, Bhadohi and Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh for carpets, Jalandhar in Punjab for sports goods, Surat and Bhavnagar in Gujarat for gems and jewellery.

Similarly, the councils, in consultation with local administrations and local NGOs, would focus on issues arising out of employment of children belonging to migrant communities and children subjected to trafficking.

The EPCs would also examine supply chain in their industries to ensure that not only exporters but also sub-contractors and suppliers adhered to laws relating to child labour.

Mr. Ramesh said Rs.4,000-crore had been earmarked in the 11th Plan for rehabilitation of child labourers.

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