According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the total number of children mainstreamed through Special Training Centers set up under National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme, is 13.63 lakh, since the inception of the scheme.
- It is based on the available data and the data uploaded as on date on Pencil Portal since its launch in 2017,
- The Ministry of Labour and Employment is implementing the NCLP Scheme since 1988 for rehabilitation of child labourers.
- Under the NCLP, the children in the age group of 9-14 years are rescued/ withdrawn from work and enrolled in the NCLP Special Training Centres, where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, mid-day meal, stipend, health care, etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system.
- The children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through a close coordination with the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
- The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 which came into force with effect from 1.9.2016, provides for complete prohibition of work or employment of children below 14 years of age in any occupation and process and prohibition of adolescents in the age group of 14 to 18 years in hazardous occupations and processes.
- The Amendment Act also provides for stricter punishment for employers for violation of the Act and has made the offence as cognizable.
(Source: PIB)
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