India CSR News Network
NEW DELHI: The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides that every child in the age group of 6 to 14 years shall have a right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till completion of elementary education.
Section 4 of the RTE Act provides for special training for age appropriate admission of out of school children. Those children who have missed out certain academic years either because they were never enrolled in school or dropped out of school, have a right to special training in residential and non residential mode, subsequently to be mainstreamed in formal schools in age appropriate class.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) provides assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations to ensure quality and inclusive elementary education for all children for the said age group.
The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 prohibits the employment of children below 14 years of age in 18 occupations and 65 processes and regulates the working condition of children in employment where they are not prohibited.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment is implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme since 1988 to rehabilitate working children in 12 child labour endemic districts of the country. Children rescued/withdrawn from work in the age group of 9-14 years are enrolled in the NCLP Special Training Centres, where they are provided bridge education, vocational training, mid-day meal, stipend, health care etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system. Children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through a close coordination with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Shri Upendra Kushwaha today in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.
