**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding child labor, specifically for children aged 5-14. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau indicates the number of cases registered under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, were 464 in 2018, 772 in 2019, 476 in 2020, 613 in 2021, and 751 in 2022.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment previously implemented the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme to rescue and rehabilitate child laborers aged 9-14. This scheme involved enrolling rescued children in NCLP Special Training Centres (STCs) to provide bridge education before integrating them into the formal education system. As of March 31, 2021, 1225 STCs were operational across 59 districts. The NCLP scheme has been integrated into the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a Ministry of Education scheme, effective April 1, 2021.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The Indian government ministry responsible for labour and employment policies.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Shri Abhishek Banerjee: A member of Lok Sabha who raised a question regarding child labour.
Sushri Shobha Karandlaje: The Minister of State for Labour and Employment who answered the question regarding child labour.
Child and Adolescent Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986: An Indian law prohibiting and regulating child and adolescent labour.
National Crime Records Bureau: An Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data.
National Child Labour Project: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Employment for the rehabilitation of child labourers.
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: A scheme of Ministry of Education which subsumed the National Child Labour Project.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2306
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
CHILD LABOUR
2306. SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)the details of the total number of children in the age group of 5-14
years working in the country;
(b)the details of the number of such children engaged in hazardous
occupations/processes; and
(c)the details of the number of Central Child Labour Schools set-up in
the country so far since the inception of the National Child Labour
Project, year-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (b): As per “Crime in India” a publication of National Crime
Records Bureau, the number of cases registered under the Child and
Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 in the
country during the calendar years 2018, 2019,2020, 2021 and 2022
were 464, 772, 476, 613 and 751 respectively.
(c): The Ministry of Labour & Employment had been
implementing National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for
rescue & rehabilitation of child labourers under which the children in
the age group of 9-14 years were rescued from work, enrolled in the
NCLP Special Training Centres (STCs) and were provided with bridge
education etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education
system. The NCLP scheme has been subsumed with Samagara
Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a scheme of Ministry of Education with effect
from 01.04.2021. As per the information received from the District
Project Societies, as on 31.03.2021, 1225 Special Training Centres in
59 districts were operational.
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