The Centre on Monday said the number of child labourers in the country had declined from 1.26 crore in 2001 to 43.53 lakh in 2011, a figure which was questioned by some MPs, including from the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena.

In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said while in the 2001 Census, the number of child labourers was estimated at 1.26 crore, the figure went down to 43.53 lakh in the 2011 Census.

However, Shiv Sena member Vinayak Bhaurao Raut and Trinamool’s SK Mondal, backed by some BJP members, raised doubts over the figure, and pointed out the difference in data available from International Labour Organisation and the Census on child labour. The Minister assured them that the Centre would see to it that correct data was made available.

Dattatreya also said that the various Acts related to child labour would soon be converged. Also, there were plans to link the Right to Education Act with the rehabilitation and settlement of child labour to bring them into the mainstream, he added.

He said a Bill to amend the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation Act), 1986 was pending in the Rajya Sabha to improve on the existing law, adding that the government would also move fresh official amendments once the Bill comes up for passage.

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