"Jharkhand to be free from child labour in five years"

Jharkhand government today said the state would be free from child labour within five years and all government employees would be instructed not to engage child labour.
Jharkhand Rural Development, Labour, Employment, Training and Panchayati Raj Minister K N Tripathi said announced this at the meeting organised by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) and UNICEF to mark the World Day Against Child Labour.
"All steps will be taken immediately to stop child labour in household work," he said.
He sought suggestions to formulate creative and innovative schemes and policies to prevent child labour.
Job Zachariah, Chief, UNICEF Jharkhand Office, said the most effective strategy to prevent child labour was by improving access to quality education.

"If all children of 6-14 years attend school regularly in the state, there would be no child labour," Zacharia said.
Stating that child labour should become a socially unacceptable practice as it is a crime against children and violation of their rights, he said, "We need social mobilisation to create a social norm against child labour. A vigilant child protection committee at village level can prevent child labour, child marriage and child trafficking.