National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme

Introduction:-

National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme is a government initiated scheme that was launched in 1988 to rehabilitate working children in 12 child labour endemic districts of the country. The scheme was started to eliminate all forms of child labour by: -

1. Identifying and withdrawal of all children in the project area from child labour.
2. ensuring convergence of services provided by different government departments/agencies for the benefit of child and their family.
3. Preparing children withdrawn from work for mainstream education alongwith vocational training.

NCLP schemes seeks to contribute to the withdrawal of all adolescent workers from hazardous occupations/processes and their skilling and integration in appropriate occupations through

1. Identification and withdrawal of all adolescent workers from hazardous occupations / processes
2. Facilitating vocational training opportunities for such adolescents through existing scheme of skill developments
3. Creation of a Child Labour Monitoring, Tracking and Reporting System.

The scheme includes : -

• All child workers below the age of 14 years in the identified target area.
• Families of Child workers in the identified target area.
• Adolescent workers below the age of 18 years in the target area engaged in hazardous occupations/ processes

100% of the funding is provided by the Government of India through the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Under the existing NCLP scheme Funds are released by the Central Government directly to the registered NCLP District Project Society under the chairpersonship of the administrative head of the district namely District Magistrate/District Collector (DM/DC)/Deputy Commissioner of the district who is under administrative control of the State Government.

Components of the scheme: -

Under National Child Labour Projects, focus is on different developmental and welfare programmes for the benefit of child labour in the project area. Effective convergence and an integrated approach of the relevant social sector schemes need to be carried out to achieve the project goals. The activities to be taken up under the project in the 10th plan are : -

1. Stepping up of enforcement of child labour laws
2. Formal, Non-formal education
3. Provision of Vocational Training
4. Income and employment generation activities.
5. Raising of public awareness
6. Survey and evaluation
7. Direct rehabilities of child labour
8. The special schools/Rehabilitation Centres provide:
   1. Non-formal/bridge education
   2. Skilled/vocational training
   3. Mid Day Meal
   4. Stipend @ Rs.150/- per child per month.
   5. Health care facilities through a doctor appointed for a group of 20 schools.

Target groups :

• The project societies are required to conduct survey to identify children working in hazardous occupations and processes.
• These children will then form the target group for the project society. 
• Working children in the age group of 9-14 years will have to be rehabilitated through NCLP schools established by the Project Society.
• Children in the age-group of 5-8 years will have to be mainstreamed directly to formal educational system through the SSA. 

About 6000 special schools are in operation under NCLP scheme at present. More than 10 lakhs children have been mainstreamed into the formal education system under the Scheme.

Steps to be taken for setting up of new national child labour projects (NCLPs)

• Firstly, survey to be conducted by the District Administration with the help of Labour and Education Department, regarding the number of children engaged in hazardous and non-hazardous occupations and processes in the District. (Copy of a suggested format for Survey enclosed).
• Full details such as
  • name of the child,
  • father's name,
  • age,
  • address
  • occupation
  • process from where the child would be withdrawn, to be compiled.
• The number and locations of the proposed Special Schools under the NCLP to be finalized by the District Administration.
• Justification for the setting up of NCLP to be brought out clearly.
• Composition of the Project Society to be finalized by the District Collector.
• Bye-laws of the Project Society to be framed and finalized by the District Collector.
• Registration of the District Project Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Forwarding of the Proposal by the District Collector/ Chairperson of the NCLP to the State Government (Labour Secretary).
• Recommendation of the proposal by the State Government to the Government of India.
• Consideration of the Project Proposal by the Government of India.
• Issue of Sanction by the Government of India.
• Recruitment of the Project Director and other staff of the Project Society, by the Chairperson.
• Finalization of the names of the NGOs. by the Chairperson, NCLP for running the Special Schools.
• Allotment of Special Schools to the NGOs.
• Training/Orientation Programme for the selected NGOs.
• Selection of staff for special schools by NGOs.
• Admission of children into special schools.
• Constitution of State Level Monitoring Committee by the State Government.

Postal Address :

Ministry of Labour & Employment
Govt. of India,
Shram Shakti Bhawan
Rafi Marg.
New Delhi-110001
India

Complain Form : Child Labour Complain Form