Start giving vocational skills to children of 15 years: NCPCR to Skill Development Ministry

The NCPCR has asked the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to develop vocational skills of children from the age of 15 years so that they can start working once they turn 18, according to a report.

Currently, under programmes being run by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the minimum age for receiving any training is 18 years.

"This deprives adolescents from receiving training," according to a new report of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Availability of Quality Education and Vocational Training in Observation Homes.

The report said a separate scheme for vocational and skill training is highly crucial for these children as they need it for their rehabilitation.

The NCPCR has recommended that the ministry make policies for vocational skills of children from the age of 15 years so that they can start working when they turn 18, depending on their training.

The report focussed on the educational and vocational training situation of children at observation homes in the country.

Its aim was to understand the situation, and the educational and vocational needs of the children, and the strategies to address them.

Observation homes are for those children who are allegedly in conflict with the law during pendency of an enquiry.

"There is a need to develop observation homes like vocational training centres and schools to properly rehabilitate children. These children cannot be kept in isolation," Member, NCPCR, Priyank Kanungo, said.

The child rights body called for the need for collaboration and convergent action by the women and child development, labour and skill development ministries.

It suggested that the ministries come to the common understanding to extend skill training to the adolescents in the age of 15 to 18 years under different schemes being implemented by them.

There are 293 observation homes and 47 special homes for children as in 2015-16.