Difference in figures a major hindrance for govt & activists

While the bone of contention with regard to child labour and abuse is the difference in facts and figures generated by activists and the government, the Central as well local authorities seem to have geared up efforts to attend to the issue.

The ministry of women and child development has fast- tracked its endeavours in the past few months. It has taken up new areas to understand why the capital and country lag behind in curtailing child labour despite several laws being in place.

However, the activists feel the work done is too little and too late, and most of them doubt the efforts of the Delhi government.

“According to the NCPCR the number of child labourers in Delhi is around 35,000. This figure is highly questionable as we know there are more than one lakh children who are homeless and not enrolled in school. Unless and until the government clarifies on the data, it is impossible to get to the root cause of the problem. NGOs have been on their toes to shelter and provide basic facilities to these children but that is only one aspect of the issue,” explained Amod Kanth of Prayas.

While the NGOs applauded the attention given to the sector as a fallout of international recognition, experts feel there are few immediate steps that can change the scenario.

Since a major chunk of children are employed illegally in households as domestic helps, it is crucial to bring placement agencies in the capital under the purview of the law.

The fact that they operate in a callous manner adds to the disparities in figures of number children working as domestic labour. The capital is a major market for these agencies.

In order to keep a check on children being trafficked from across India, the ministry has come up with a helpline which will expand its wings by the end of the financial year to aid in tracking children.