New Delhi, India, February 24--Deputy Secretary of Labor Steven J. Law Thursday announced a $6 million aid commitment towards a joint project to eliminate hazardous and exploitative child labor in India.
This is the last part of a $20 million commitment by the U.S. The government of India is making an identical financial contribution to the project, a statement issued by the US Embassy here said.
"As India's prominence grows in the worldwide economy, it is important to address social concerns such as child labor," said Stevens, who is India on a six-day visit.
"The Indian government has demonstrated a serious commitment to eliminating hazardous and exploitative child labour by developing educational alternatives and enforcing its laws in this area."
The U.S. Embassy said that this engagement between the Labor Department and the Indian government is its largest international technical assistance effort and focuses on removing children from 10 specific industries in India.
These industries include beedis and cigarettes, brassware, bricks, fireworks, footwear, bangles, locks, matches, quarried stones and silk. In addition, India has agreed to assess the status of child labor in the carpet industry.
Thus far, the project has enrolled 44,000 child laborers and youth in education and training programs. The project is being implemented in 20 districts in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi.
Law is also scheduled to travel to Chennai and Mumbai to meet with children, parents and community leaders associated with the project.
