Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has unveiled a multi tiered action plan to eliminate child labour from the state, with the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department taking the lead in implementing rehabilitative measures. The phased strategy prioritises identification, rescue, and reintegration of working children into mainstream education and society.
Aimed at eight aspirational districts Bahraich, Balrampur, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Shravasti, Siddharth nagar, and Sonbhadra the plan seeks to make these areas child labour-free by December 2026. Special drives will also be conducted across Kanpur and Devipatan divisions, where prevalence remains high.
The WCD Department’s existing schemes will form the core of the rehabilitation strategy. One Stop Centres will serve as immediate relief hubs, offering temporary shelter, medical care, counselling, and documentation support for rescued children. The centres will also facilitate reintegration into their communities and educational institutions.
Financial support will be extended under the Bal Seva Yojana, which provides `2,500 per month to children who are orphaned, abandoned, or in distress. Similarly, the Sponsorship Scheme offers aid to children from economically disadvantaged families to ensure continued education and essential care. Both these schemes are now being aligned to support children withdrawn from labour.
Another pillar of the strategy is the expansion of the Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana across all 75 districts. This scheme encourages rescued child labourers to return to school by offering scholarships, academic assistance, books, and uniforms. The Education Department will oversee their re-enrolment and ensure continuity in learning.
Efforts to build a reliable database of working children are underway at the panchayat level. Village secretaries, Anganwadi workers, and school management committees will jointly identify and track children at risk, especially those from migrant families.
To strengthen the campaign, collaboration with NGOs, schools, and civil society will be encouraged, turning the anti-child labour movement into a community-driven effort.
The state’s strategy reflects a shift toward systemic rehabilitation rather than isolated rescue operations, with education and long-term support at its core.
