Madhya Pradesh tops list of child labourers in country

A recent study conducted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has revealed that Madhya Pradesh tops the list of highest number of child labourers in the country. The appalling figures point out that the highest number of child labourers engaged in Beedi industry, are from MP.

"We conducted study in different parts of the country and found out that out of all states with Beedi industries, Madhya Pradesh has highest number of child labourers engaged in the trade," claimed NCPCR senior technical expert Mohandas Godson. Madhya Pradesh has Beedi making units in Sagar, Damoh, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Chhatarpur, Indore and other places.

The study conducted by Godson and NCPCR member Dr Yogesh Dubey claims that 18.3% of the total Beedi workers (4.3 million) are in MP which attributes to highest number of child labourers in state followed by others including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha & Andhra Pradesh.

On the flipside, labour department officials claimed that the number of Beedi industries has significantly shrunk in the state.

"Beedi production in the state has been significantly discouraged and the number of units has also reduced," said state labour department deputy commissioner RG Pandey. Officials, however, refused to comment on the status of child labour engaged in Beedi industry in the state. Contradicting the claim of labour department, Godson said that since it is highly difficult to map children engaged in Beedi making which is a home industry and clubbing fact with the highest registered Beedi workers in MP, the labour department's claim is not substantial. NCPCR has forwarded its recommendation to state government.

"We have recommended that a drive should be conducted under Sarva Shikhsa Abhiyaan for bringing them to schools as school dropouts are most vulnerable to child labour," Dr Dube said.