Protocol on child labour framed

SHILLONG: As per the Meghalaya State Protocol on Child Labour framed by the State Government, the education department should ensure enrollment of children in schools.

The Protocol said that child labourers need to be accommodated in Residential Bridge Centres under SSA where special schools are not available.

The Protocol makes it mandatory for the education department for providing books and uniforms to the children enrolled in these special schools.

Moreover, smooth mainstreaming of children from special Schools to regular SSA schools is also mandatory.

Identifying child labour in the district level surveys conducted for out of school children and admitting of rescued children in schools without insisting on various formalities and certificates are other tasks of the education department.

Moreover, children should be admitted in schools irrespective of the time of the year, the Protocol said.

While labour department will be the nodal unit, other stakeholders to ensure protection of children are police department, district administration, social welfare and health departments.