District Task Forces to Be Formed Across the State; Aim to Make UP Child Labour-Free by 2027
Lucknow — The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has unveiled a comprehensive and coordinated plan to eliminate child labour from the state by 2027. With an ambitious goal and an inter-departmental approach, the initiative aims to identify, rescue, and rehabilitate child labourers, ensuring their access to quality education and a safe childhood.
District-Level Task Forces to be Formed Soon
Recognizing the lack of reliable data as a major hurdle in eliminating child labour, the state government has directed the Panchayati Raj Department to collect data at the village level on working children and child labourers. This information will be shared with the Labour and Education Departments to effectively implement anti-child labour programmes.
To facilitate this process, the government will soon establish district-level task forces in every district. These task forces, working in collaboration with village panchayats, will speed up data collection and intervention efforts.
Inter-Departmental Coordination at the Core
The new strategy is being spearheaded by the Labour Department, with active support from Education, Women and Child Development, Panchayati Raj, Home, Health, Social Welfare, Rural Development, Urban Development, and Vocational Education departments. The initiative marks an unprecedented level of coordination among these departments, enabling holistic solutions to long-standing challenges.
In partnership with UNICEF, a comprehensive booklet compiling relevant schemes from different departments is also being prepared. This booklet will serve as a guide to help child labourers and their families access benefits across multiple schemes.
Focus on School Retention and Rehabilitation
A key challenge remains the irregular attendance of enrolled children, many of whom are at risk of falling into the child labour trap. To tackle this, the government is actively implementing schemes like the Bal Seva Yojana, Sponsorship Scheme, and the Child Helpline through the Women Welfare Department. These initiatives aim to ensure school retention and provide rehabilitation support.
The government is also reviewing its earlier ‘Naya Savera’ scheme for qualitative evaluation and potential re-launch, with an aim to offer better opportunities to child workers.
Statewide Awareness Campaign on June 12
In an effort to generate mass awareness, the state will observe World Day Against Child Labour on June 12 with a large-scale awareness event in Lucknow. The campaign will involve non-governmental organisations (NGOs), employers, and labour unions. The event aims to sensitise stakeholders and galvanise community support against child labour.
Quality Education at the Core of the Mission
To strengthen its efforts further, the government is operating Atal Residential Schools in all divisions of the state for children of labourers. Additionally, the Mukhyamantri Composite Schools are focusing on providing quality education to children from rural backgrounds and those affected by child labour.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s firm resolve to eliminate child labour is reshaping Uttar Pradesh’s future through data-backed policymaking, awareness drives, and education-driven rehabilitation. With collaborative governance and innovative interventions, the campaign is on course to become a milestone in the journey towards a child labour-free Uttar Pradesh by 2027.
