Elimination of child labour a distant goal, country needs uniform definition of ‘child’ first: Parl panel

New Delhi, Dec 20: The implementation of a policy to eliminate child labour has a long way to go before achieving its ultimate goal by 2025 and the country needs a uniform definition of ‘child’ under various laws, a parliamentary panel said in its report on Wednesday.
According the 52nd report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles And Skill Development Committee tabled in the parliament, the panel found ambiguity in definition of child under various legislations.
It stated, “The implementation of the Policy has to go a long way for achieving the objective of elimination of child labour as per commitments made by the county after ratification of ILO conventions and to achieve the target stipulated in Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 to end all forms of child labour by 2025.”
According to the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (CALPRA), the panel noted, ‘child’ means a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age or such age as may be specified in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, whichever is more.
The amendment made to the Act in 2016 defines the child falling in the age group of (14-18) years. Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, “Child’ means a male or female aged six to fourteen years.
As per the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 vide its amendment in 1986 a ‘child’ is defined as a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age. At the same time, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 defines ‘child’ as a person who has not completed eighteen years of age. The term ‘adolescent’ is not defined in JJ Act, 2015.
The Committee has also been given to understand that the Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakaram under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare defines an adolescent as a person between 10-19 years, the report further pointed out.
It suggested the ministry to pursue with other ministries for having child-friendly police stations and courts. (PTI)