Child labour prevention act contradicts education act

Updated on: Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act [CLPRA] is in direct conflict with the Right to Education (RTE) Act and needs to be amended, a prominent NGO working against child labour said Monday.

"We want the CLPRA to be amended to bring it in line with the RTE," said Harpal Singh, board chairman of Save the Children.

"The RTE which ensures compulsory elementary education to children between six and 14 years of age is in contradiction with CLPRA. You cannot have one law to regulate child labour while another law guarantees the fundamental right of every child to compulsory elementary education," Singh said.

At the end of their 45-day campaign against child labour, the NGO asked 45 eminent persons to back their petition for the amendment of CLPRA. The petition will be addressed to the prime minister.

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