Monday, November 19, 2007

Scheme fails to curb child labour in Nuapada

The Pioneer,Nov 19,2007

Aswini Panigrahi | Nuapada

No significant progress has been made in Naupada under the National Child Labour Programme (NCLP), though crores of rupees have been spent for its implementation. The programme aims at eradication of child labour, but children are still found to be engaged in hotels, dhabas and tea stalls.

According to a bench mark survey, there is a great difference in the number of the children assessed by the NCLP authorities and private agencies.

As per the official assessment, there are only 104 child labourers, while as per private agencies' survey the number is as high as 2,0480, out of which 3,648 are in Nuapada block, 2,937 in Komna block, 5,477 in Khariar block,6,744 in Sinapali block and 1,744 in Boden block.

Though employment of children below the age of 14 is unlawful, many people employ child labourers.

On the other hand, the official machinery responsible for rescuing child labourers from the clutches of the employers is found to be inactive. No proper steps to make the children educated are being taken.

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