AP: Ensure RTE for child labourers

HYDERABAD: The Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act-1986 should be amended according to the rules of Right to Education (RTE) Act and state should make sure that no child drops out of schools in this academic year, said Prof K Nageshwar, Member of Legislative Council.Speaking at press conference conducted by MV Foundation here on Sunday, he said, "To provide better facilities for school dropouts, the government should make a list of all children who were in and out of schools with the help of NGOs." According to a survey by MV Foundation, 15 per cent of the children whose names were enrolled in schools, were not attending the classes. Moreover many of these children were engaged in work, Nageshwar pointed out.He said that the government should hold meetings in the Assembly on eradication of child labour and children's rights. It should make a comprehensive plan with departments concerned regarding this.Coordinator of MV Foundation Y Rajendra Prasad said that AP state was among the top two states in the number of child labourers. Thousands of children are working in hotels, quarries, households and small industries like brick kilns in and around Hyderabad.  Eighty per cent of the child labourers are in the agricultural sector but government does not consider these children as child labourers, he said.