(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?
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.
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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 non-residential 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-day-meal 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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