Nearly 100 activists slam move to legalize child labour in family firms, call it 'retrogressive'

NEW DELHI: Nearly 100 child rights activists have protested against the Centre’s move to allow children under 14 years to work in family enterprises terming the move as ``retrogressive.’’ In a letter to PM Narendra Modi activists have described the amendments to the child labour law as ``double-speak.’’
"This is an astonishingly retrogressive amendment to Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act 1986 (CLPRA), reversing several decades of efforts by child rights activists, by legalizing exploitation of children through work, and invisibilizing child labour.It contravenes the equitable right of all children to childhood and their entitlements to live a life with dignity as guaranteed by the Constitution of India, several legislations and the UNCRC to which India is a signatory," the letter said.
It has been signed by eminent personalities like former additional solicitor general Indira Jaising, former NCPCR chairperson Shantha Sinha and others including Harsh Mander, Vandana Prasad, Dipa Dixit and Enakshi Ganguly.
The activists said that the amendment claims to "harmonise" CLPRA with the RTE act and ending child labour is an ``unfortunate example of double-speak, as it actually results in perpetuation of child labour as bonded labourers and their enslavement at the cost of her right to education and a carefree childhood. It is totally unacceptable that the government in this way plays to vested interests, shortchanging children’s rights.
The activists have demanded therefore that the proposed amendment to legalize child labour of children after schools hours and during vacations be dropped in the best interest of the equitable right of all children to education, leisure, play and childhood.