National

Call for abolition of child labour

JAIPUR: Civil society groups and non-government organisations in Rajasthan have called for abolition of child labour as part of a broad strategy for fulfilling children’s rights, employment guarantee, fair wages and poverty alleviation.

At a meeting to discuss the State government’s child policy here over the week-end, the rights groups felt that reforms in the juvenile justice system and sensitisation of police and administration were being neglected in the State.

The child policy covers the sectors such as child health, care and nutrition, education, girl child and children with special needs.

Prahlad Singh Shekhawat of the Children’s Rights Forum said the policy should have a “rights perspective” whereby the State government becomes duty bound to enforce its provisions.

All government action plans should treat children as a priority, he added.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Rajasthan Labour Watch, World Vision, Barefoot Lawyers, International Children Rights Network and the Alternative Development Centre.

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