NEW DELHI: While the people in 5 states will be inundated with various modes of election campaigning over the next few weeks, Child rights panel will be closely monitoring those distributing party's T-shirts, posters, stickers to ensure no children are used by political parties.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairperson Stuti Kacker recently wrote a letter to all Presidents of major political parties raising concerns over the use of Children in election campaign. She said, “ It has been reported that Children are often used in multifarious activities by various political parties during the election campaigns, which is in violation of rights of Children.”
“As the commission is committed to the survival, development and protection of the rights of the children, the commission views this matter very seriously,” NCPCR Chairperson Stuti Kacker wrote.
Earlier the Election Commission in 2009 had slammed Chief Electoral Officers of all states when it had noticed that Children were employed for carrying electronic voting machines at Bhagalpur, Bihar. According to Election Commission guidelines, District Election Officers will be personally held responsible for employing Children to carry electronic voting machines and will be liable to face severe disciplinary action apart from facing the consequences of the law.
The NCPCR has been constituted under the provisions of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights act, 2005 for the protection of child rights and other matters. The UN convention on the rights of the Child, which has been ratified by India, provides under Article 36 that “Children should be protected from any activities that could harm their development.
The NCPCR has also issued two-points guideline to the political parties for strict compliance. It said, “ Children should not be used in the election campaign in any form whatsoever, either for distribution of posters/pamphlets or to participate in slogan shouting, campaign rallies, election meetings etc.”
In its second guideline, the panel has asked the political parties to include a chapter in their manifesto on Children rights.
“As Children constitutes the most precious asset of the country we would request you to include a chapter in your party’s election manifesto on promoting and protecting the rights of the Child as enshrined in the UNCRC and ratified by the government.”
The Law and Violation
Child Labour Act bans the employment of children below 14 years of age in specified occupations such as transport of goods etc. which are considered unsafe and harmful to child workers and regulates the conditions of work of children in employment. It also lays down penalties for employment of children in violation of the provisions of this Act, other Acts which forbid the employment of children. The Act extends to the whole of India.
According to Ministry of Labour & Employment, the number of main workers in the age group of 5-14 years in the country is 43.53 lakh as per census 2011. The Census figure said UP had maximum 8,96,301 Child Labourers followed by 4,96,916 in Maharashtra and 4,51,590 in Bihar.
However, Ministry had said that the number of working children in the age group of 5-14 years is declining. The Ministry said a Central Monitoring Committee was put in place with the representatives of State Governments and other concerned Ministries and Departments for overall supervision of the child labour projects, to discuss, analyse, invite suggestions on eradication of child labour.