The Chhattisgarh Government has sought guidance from the Central government for the effective management of child labour schools in the State.
The Central government has decided to wind up the national child labour project and the schools functioning under it. Instead, it has directed the states to set up training centres for child labour.There are more than 500 child labour schools in the State. More than 2,000 employees are engaged in these schools. They include 550 teachers. All these schools are being run by non-government organisations.
The government allocates funds to these NGOs under the national child labour project. In a circular, the national child labour project has urged the State government to convert the child labour schools into training centres.It has also directed the government to admit the students enrolled in child labour schools to the government schools. This has created a panic among the employees and teachers who are engaged in child labour schools. A delegation of the employees met Chief Minister Raman Singh and requested him not to close the child labour schools.
On the direction of the Chief Minister, the State labour Commissioner has written a letter to the National Child labour Project chief seeking guidance on the child labour schools. Seeking a guideline on the matter, he also has suggested that the State be allowed to continue the child labour schools.