Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has officially launched a comprehensive State Action Plan to eliminate child labour across the state by 2027, starting with targeted efforts in eight high-burden districts and two key divisions. The plan was approved during a high-level meeting chaired by Principal Secretary (Labour) M.K. Shanmuga Sundaram in Lucknow.
Phase I: Target to Make 10 Regions Child Labour-Free by 2026
In the first phase, the government will focus on eradicating child labour in the districts of Bahraich, Balrampur, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, and Sonbhadra, along with the Kanpur and Devipatan divisions. These areas are slated to be declared child labour-free by December 2026.
Officials from multiple departments—including Education, Panchayati Raj, Health, Women and Child Welfare, Social Welfare, and Skill Development—participated in the strategic planning session, underscoring the government’s emphasis on multi-departmental coordination.
Child Labour Education Scheme to Cover All 75 Districts
The government will expand the Child Labour Education Scheme across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. This program aims to mainstream rescued or identified child labourers into formal education.
Each school involved in the program will designate a Child Labour Friendly Teacher, responsible for providing mentorship, academic support, and progress tracking for these students, ensuring they remain in the education system.
Tech-Driven Monitoring: New App and Software in Development
To enable real-time tracking of child labour cases and improve response efficiency, the government is developing a dedicated mobile application and integrated software system. This digital tool will allow for continuous monitoring and ensure accountability across departments.
UNICEF-Supported Divisional Workshops in August–September
To support implementation efforts, the state will conduct divisional-level workshops in August and September 2025, with technical assistance from UNICEF. These workshops will take place in divisions most affected by child labour, including:
- Gorakhpur
- Lucknow
- Mirzapur
- Varanasi
- Devipatan
- Jhansi
- Chitrakoot
- Agra
- Aligarh
The workshops will focus on best practices in prevention, rehabilitation, reintegration, and inter-agency coordination.
Departmental Action Plans: Health, Welfare, and Re-enrolment
Government departments have been directed to:
- Identify out-of-school or dropout children
- Facilitate their re-enrolment in school
- Conduct comprehensive health check-ups
Provide access to key rehabilitation schemes, including:
- One Stop Centre
- Bal Seva Yojana
- Sponsorship Programme
In response to concerns from the Medical Department over a shortage of radiologists, instructions have been issued to ensure the presence of at least one radiologist at Community Health Centres (CHCs) or Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in every district.
Economic Empowerment to Prevent Re-entry into Labour
The Social Welfare Department has been tasked with ensuring that families of rescued child labourers are linked to government welfare and financial empowerment schemes. This step is intended to eliminate the economic pressures that often push children into exploitative labour conditions.
Urgency Underscored by Census Data
According to Labour Commissioner Markandey Shahi, over 21.76 lakh children were recorded as working in Uttar Pradesh, as per the 2011 Census. This data has highlighted the critical need for timely and focused interventions to reverse the trend and build sustainable protections for children.
