GUWAHATI, Dec 19 - A two-day State level conference on addressing the issue of child labour in Assam began here today.
The conference is being attended by a range of stakeholders and duty bearers, who have an impact on abolition of child labour, like the Department of Social Welfare, Department of Labour and Welfare and civil society organisations.
The Centre for Child Rights, National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam in partnership with the Department of Labour and Welfare and UNICEF, Office for Assam is organising the two-day conference.
KV Eapen, Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Welfare attended the inaugural session as the chief guest, while Anasua Dutta Barua, Deputy Labour Commissioner was the guest of honour.
Prof JS Patil, Vice Chancellor, NLUJAA; Prof Yugal Kishore, Registrar, NLUJAA and Dr Tushar Rane, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Office for Assam were also present on the occasion.
During the course of the day, a range of discussions took place, which included an understanding of the relevant laws, particularly the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
Discussions were also held on key issues and challenges faced by different departments in combating child labour in Assam as well as on the Sarva Siksha Abhijan Mission and civil society�s role in ensuring right to education for all children who are vulnerable to or are victims of child labour.
On the second day of the conference, the participants are going to figure out key challenges faced by them in combating child labour in Assam and will recommend solutions for the same.