Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, June 12:

The government is determined to eliminate child labour within five years, said Dr Shankar Sharma, the vice-chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC). Thousands of children work as child porters, bonded labourers, rag-pickers, domestic helpers, mine and quarry labourers and garment and carpet weavers. Addressing the fourth World Day Against Child Labour at Bhrikuti Mandap today, Dr Sharma said that the government is determined to achieve this goal as it is already providing free lunch to students in 21 districts, addressing the problems of conflict-affected children through special programmes and distributing books free of cost. He added that this goal is attainable with the support of individuals, schools, organisations, non-governmental organisations and civil society.

Leyla Tegmao-Reddy, the director of International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Nepal said: “The World Day Against Child Labour is a global movement aiming to set children free from worst forms of child labour.” She added that this movement is involved in lobbying for the ratification and implementation of ILO Conventions 138 and 182 which relate to child labour.” Dinesh Chandra Adhikary, acting secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management said: “Violation of child rights affects the country’s future.” There is a provision to penalise those going against child labour laws, he said. “Proper monitoring system is needed to check the informal sector from going against child labour laws,” he added. Dr Sharma gave away certificates to organisations working to eliminate worst forms of child labour. The Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, Nepal Trade Union Congress, General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions, Democratic Confederation of Nepalese Trade Union, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Child Workers In Nepal, Sath Sath and Children-Women in Social Service and Human Rights received the certificates. Prizes were given to the winners of various competitions organised in the schools of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur by the Nepal Trade Union Congress.