Lok Sabha Question No. 1175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-06
Subject: Child Labour in Mining
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1175

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2021

## CHILD LABOUR IN MINING

## 1175. SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether the Government is aware that thousands of children in the age  group  of  6  and  14  years  have  quit  education  to  slog  away  in micro mining at various mines in Jharkhand , Bihar and other States to supplement their family income;
- (b)if so, the reasons for such a pathetic condition of children; and
- (c)the  corrective  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this  regard  to abolish child labour in mica mining areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (c): The Government has enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition &  Regulation)  Amendment  Act,  2016  which  came  into  force  w.e.f. 01.09.2016. The Amendment Act provides for complete prohibition of work or employment of children below 14 years in any occupation and process  and  adolescents  in  the  age  group  of  14  to  18  years  in hazardous occupations and processes. The amendment also provides stricter  punishment  for  employers  for  violation  of  the  Act  and  made the  offence  as  cognizable.  Also,  Mines  and  Collieries  have  been included in the Schedule - Part A, of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and  Regulation) Act,  1986,  wherein  adolescents  are prohibited  to  work  and  children  are  prohibited  to  help  in  mines including mica mines in all states including Jharkhand and Bihar in the country.

Further, Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, mandates the appropriate Government to provide  free  and  compulsory  elementary  education  to  every  child  of the age 6 to 14 years in a neighborhood school.

Under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme, financial assistance is provided to the States and UTs for various activities to reduce the number of drop-outs, which include opening/strengthening of  new  schools  upto  senior  secondary  level,  construction  of  school buildings and additional classrooms, setting-up/upgradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, setting up of residential schools/hostels,  free  uniforms,  free  text  books,  transport  allowance and undertaking enrolment drives, residential as well as nonresidential trainings, seasonal hostels/residential camps etc. Financial assistance  is  also  provided  for  inclusive  Education  of  children  with special needs, vocational education and ICT in schools. Also, mid-daymeal is provided to students at the elementary level of education.

Further,  to  ensure  that  children  have  access  to  education with quality and equity and to minimize the impact of the pandemic on school education in the country, Ministry of Education shared guidelines  dated  07.01.2021  with  all  states  which,  among  others, include  identification  of  out  of  school  children  from  age  6-18  years, enrolment-drives  and  awareness  generation,  student  support  while schools are closed, continued Education with special needs, student support on school re-opening etc.

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