File Photo: Child Rights Activist Kailash Satyarthi (Reuters)
Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi today demanded a complete ban on all forms of labour involving children below 14 years, against the backdrop of Union Cabinet's nod to amend Child Labour Law to allow them to work in family enterprise.
The child right activist said providing education to all children in society is the key to put an end to this practice.
"Because of child labour there is poverty, illiteracy and sickness in the world and it is very essential to provide education to them as it can effectively eradicate child labour from world," said Mr Satyarthi, founder of 'Bachpan Bacahao Andolan' at a function in Bhopal.
He was in Bhopal to attend the 'amrit mahotsav' (turning of 75 years) function of educationist Surendranath Dube.
Referring to the proposed Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Bill 2012, he demanded a total ban on employing children below 14 in all kinds of profession.
On one of the proposed amendments that allows children below 14 years to work in family enterprise after his school hours or during vacations, Mr Satyarthi said the children should be allowed to do so only under his parents or legal guardians and not under his relatives.
He demanded a complete ban on employment of children in the age group of 15-18 in all forms hazardous industries unlike in only 18 industries which used to be the case.
The existing Child Labour Law which was framed in 1986 has many loopholes, he said, adding the proposed bill will plug them and have more stringent provisions.
"We demanded that in the cases of violation, provision of awarding stringent punishment and heavy fines should be done in the proposed new bill to which Union cabinet has recently given its nod," Mr Satyarthi said.
"I have demanded from Labour Minister that the list of 18 hazardous industries should not be brought down under any circumstances and that it should be enhanced further by identifying more such industries," he said.