14th May , 2015
New Delhi
Modi Government’s attempts to dilute the present provisions of Child Labour Act 1986 as amended in 2012 and to legitimise forced child labour in the name of socio economic reality is simply unacceptable. The Cabinet approval of child labour before or after school hours or during vacation is denial of child’s fundamental right to child hood which includes good quality holistic education and play and dream like a normal child. Which cabinet minister, politician or government official would like his or her child below 14 yrs to do any manual or menial labour before or after school hours? Which child would like to do adult like labour voluntarily, given the choice to play and enjoy childhood? Yesterday’s Cabinet approval in the name of harsh socio economic reality of Indian society is a shameless abdication of constitutional mandate to provide good quality free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of 14. It is indirect legitimising of bonded child labour system.
Bandhua Mukti Morcha (Bonded Labour Liberation Front) will mobilise Members of Parliament against it and in final resort challenge this repugnant move in the Supreme Court of India.