Lok Sabha Question No. 1327 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Child Labour Exploitation in Mica Mining
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1327

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## CHILD LABOUR EXPLOITATION IN MICA MINING

1327. DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:

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

- (a)whether the Government is aware of child labour and exploitation of children in the Mica mining fields in the country;
- (b)if  so,  the  steps  taken/being  taken  to  address  the  issue,  like identifying and penalising the employers;
- (c)whether the Government is planning to ensure education and safe
- working conditions for these children;
- (d)if so, the details thereof, like establishing of a committee; and
- (e)if  not,  the  details  of  alternate  sources  of  income  for  the  local residents' families?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) & (b): The Government has enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition &  Regulation)  Amendment  Act,  2016  which  came  into  force  w.e.f. 01.09.2016.  The  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 Act also provides for stricter punishment of 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.

Contd..2/-

(c) & (d): The  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  neighbourhood  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,  settingup/upgradation  and  running  of  Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalayas, setting  up  of  residential  schools/hostels,  free  uniforms,  free  text books,  transport  allowance,  residential  as  well  as  non-residential trainings, seasonal hostels/residential camps etc. Also, mid-day meal is provided under Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) to students at the elementary level of education.

(e): The Government is implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment  Guarantee    Scheme  (MGNREGS)  to  enhance  the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment in financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

********