A two-day multi-stake holders’ workshop on the issue of child labour concluded here on Tuesday. The meet was organised by labour Department of Madhya Pradesh and UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh.
Officials of labour department, Education, Woman and child development and representatives of trade unions, NGOs and UNICEF officials were present on the occasion. Speaking at the workshop, labour Commissioner KC Gupta said that there is a need to have convergence of various departments and engage society to address the challenge.
Additional labour Commissioner RG Pandey spoke on the objectives of the meet that this multi stakeholder workshop is to come out with to recommendations to address the challenge.
PJ lolichen Child Protection Specialist UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh stated that child labour affects the development of the child and fulfillment of other rights in the process.
It puts the child into multiple vulnerabilities, while Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh spoke on the Convention of the Rights of the child and its various articles. Onkar Sharma of Union Ministry of labour expressed his views on the challenge of child labour in India and existing laws.
He suggested that there is a need to have high-level committee of various departments to look into the challenge. Sachin Jain of NGO Vikas Samwad informed about the child centric data and the challenges based on data.
On the last day, the participants worked in groups and shared their inputs on the challenges and put forth their recommendations. The recommendations developed from the workshop would be submitted before the State Government for implementation. The district level stakeholders will be equipped to implement the recommendations.