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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Preventing and Eliminating Child Labor in Identified Hazardous Sectors (INDUS) – Migrant Child labor Addendum

Region/Country

ASIA/India

Project Duration

September 30, 2006 – March 31, 2009

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 2006: USD 548,000

Problem to be Addressed

The USDOL-funded INDUS project, operating in India since 2001, has observed troubling patterns of child migration in parts of India.  In some areas, children migrate with their families to work in seasonal and often hazardous occupations, such as sugar cane cultivation, leaving them without access to stable education.  Other children migrate unaccompanied from rural to urban areas to work in hazardous industries such as zari (embroidery).  These children often work long hours and have no access to education.

RESULTS

The project withdrew 529 children from exploitive child labor in Mumbai Suburban and Jalna districts in the state of Maharashtra, and in Thiruvallur district in the state of Tamil Nadu.  The project also conducted limited activities in Bihar, a “sending” state for unaccompanied children who migrate to Mumbai.

Project Objectives

 

Develop a strategy and model for prevention and rehabilitation of unaccompanied migrant child laborers and children that migrate seasonally with their families. 

Intermediate objectives include:

  • Provide transitional education for withdrawn child workers ages 9-13;
  • Provide vocational training for withdrawn adolescent laborers ages 14-17;
  • Establish mechanisms for inter-state dialogue to promote repatriation and rehabilitation of migrant child workers;
  • Sensitize and build capacity for all key stakeholders;
  • Strengthen child labor enforcement in the target districts; and
  • Carry out advocacy and awareness-raising activities in sending and receiving areas.

Summary of Activities
  • Established residential education centers in Jalna and Mumbai Suburban districts and sensitized families to their purpose;
  • Withdrew 529 children from exploitive child labor, and provided transitional education, vocational education and rehabilitative services;
  • Provided workshops and trainings for district-level and state-level government entities and select civil society organizations, to encourage coordination and plan proactive measures to prevent child labor;
  • Worked closely with key stakeholders and implementing partners to build their capacity to rehabilitate, repatriate and regularly track and follow up on child and adolescent workers who have returned to their home states and districts;
  • Provided support to strengthen local Task Forces and Enforcement Committees comprised of police, Labor Department officials and civil society partners, to carry out inspections for the identification and release of child laborers; and
  • Worked with employers groups, trade unions and other groups to raise awareness and encourage participation in efforts to combat child labor.

Grantee

International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC)

Implementing Organizations

Ministry of Labor and Employment; Ministry of Human Resources Development; NGOs and civil society groups. 

Contact Information

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT)

(202) 693-4843