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12 Jun
UNITING FOR CHANGE: Ensuring Access to Social Protection for Eliminating Child Labour
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UNITING FOR CHANGE: Ensuring Access to Social Protection for Eliminating Child Labour
Raipur, June 12, 2023 – The Department of Labour, Government of Chhattisgarh, in collaboration with UNICEF, ILO, and Samarthan, successfully organized a state-level multi-stakeholder consultation on the critical issue of child labour. The consultation aimed to foster a convergence plan among relevant government departments, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen mechanisms for addressing this pervasive problem.
Shri SL Jangde, Additional Labour Commissioner, introduced the context of the consultation, providing a comprehensive perspective on the historical aspects of child labour legislation in the country. He stressed the urgent need for collective efforts from all departments to effectively combat child labour, underscoring the importance of continuous monitoring and active participation to tackle this challenge.
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Distinguished guest speakers delivered keynote addresses during the consultation:
Shri Abhishek Singh, SBCC Specialist, UNICEF, emphasized the significance of community sensitization while supporting law enforcement agencies in combating child labour.
Shri Yogesh Kumar, Executive Director, Samarthan, highlighted the commendable work carried out by Samarthan in addressing the root causes of child labour, in addition to advocating for the implementation of relevant laws and policies.
Shrimati Savita Mishra, Additional Labour Commissioner, underscored poverty, substance misuse, and seasonal labor migration as contributing factors to child labour. She emphasized the establishment of Migrant Resource Centres to ensure the continuous development of children.
Shri Amrit Kumar Xalxo, Secretary cum Commissioner, Labour Department, presented the Department of Labour's efforts to rescue children engaged in illegal work and shed light on the Chhattisgarh State's Migrant Labour Policy.
Shri S.K. Mishra, Former Chief Secretary, emphasized the need for interdepartmental collaboration and addressed the challenges encountered in implementing collaborative efforts on the ground.
Professor Amitabh Kundu from JNU provided valuable insights into the national and international context of child labour, emphasizing the multidimensional poverty that perpetuates this issue. He stressed the importance of skill development and region-specific approaches to effectively address child labour.
Shrimati Tejkunwar Netam, Chairperson, SCPCR, shared the various interventions undertaken by the committee to combat child labour in different sectors such as begging and mining. She highlighted the challenges faced by the committee in their on-ground efforts and urged participants to recognize the collective responsibility of parents and society in preventing child labour.
The consultation served as a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices, with a focus on formulating a comprehensive action plan to eliminate child labour in Chhattisgarh. The Department of Labour, along with its partners UNICEF, ILO, and Samarthan, remains committed to working diligently towards ensuring access to social protection for all children and eradicating the menace of child labour.