MAP16 Project activities in India

The project contributes to the promotion of decent work in India by promoting accelerated action by stakeholders for the elimination of child labour through targeted interventions at the national, state and local levels. The project will pilot implementation in the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

National context

The Government of India, together with the social partners and other stakeholders, has a long history of working on the progressive elimination of child labour. This collaborative action ranged from advocacy and research to testing strategies and models of intervention. The multi-pronged strategy included ensuring decent work for adults, recognizing the needs and rights of children, social protection, universal education, respect for labour standards and seamless convergence of policies and action.

The enactment of the Child Labour Amendment (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2016 and the Right to Education Act, 2009 paved the way for ratification of the ILO’s two core conventions - Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. These ratifications have helped expand the protection coverage of the world’s children by 20 percent. It also has prepared India for meeting the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the Goal 8.7 pertaining to child labour.

As per Census 2011, the total child population in India in the age group 5-14 years is 259.6 million. Of these, just over 10 million (almost 4 percent of total child population) are working, either as ‘main worker’ or as ‘marginal worker’. The Census data shows the incidence of child labour decreased in India by 2.6 million between 2001 and 2011. The data shows greater decline in rural than urban areas. Further analysis suggests increase in the number of child workers in urban areas, indicating a growing demand and rural-to-urban migration. Together, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh constitute nearly 55 per cent of total working children (aged 5-14) in India. Addressing child labour in the urban and rural areas requires both area-specific strategies and responses as well as national responses.

Project activities

The project activities in India include:
  • comprehensive Monitoring & Evaluation Plan (CMEP) Workshop in New Delhi;
  • benefit Package for child laborers’ families and departmental budget allocations for the benefit package;
  • district level consultative workshops on convergence for child labor in Bihar (Nawada & Jamui districts);
  • capacity assessment of government departments and other stakeholders on child labour in Bihar, Chhattisgarh & Uttar Pradesh;
  • district level consultative workshops on convergence for child labour in Chhattisgarh (Baloda Bazar & Bilaspur districts);
  • district level consultative workshops on survey tools for child labour in Bihar & Chhattisgarh;
  • awareness promotion through Rath Yatra (Chariot Campaign) in 22 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Partners

National and state Governments; district administration; employers’ organisations; workers organizations; businesses; research organizations; civil society organizations and cooperatives.

Target beneficiaries

The target beneficiaries are child workers and their families, formal and informal enterprises including Micro, Small & Medium enterprises (MSME). Other indirect beneficiaries include civil society organizations and related stakeholders.