Government of Bihar Approves State Strategy and Action Plan for Elimination of Child and Adolescent Labour, 2025
The State Cabinet has approved the State Strategy and Action Plan for Elimination of Child and Adolescent Labour, 2025 — a landmark policy document aimed at creating a Child Labour‑Free Bihar.
The plan is designed to:
Eliminate child labour (below 14 years) from all occupations and processes, and
Prohibit adolescent labour (14–18 years) in all hazardous occupations and processes, in full alignment with the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 as amended.
This strategic framework adopts a holistic and rights‑based approach, combining legal enforcement with social protection, education, health care, skill development, and community mobilisation. It addresses root causes such as poverty, lack of access to quality education, and entrenched social norms — recognising that lasting change requires more than raids and rescues.
Purpose & Vision
Goal: A Child Labour–Free Bihar where every girl and boy can realise their rights to education, health, safety, and dignity, free from exploitation.
Approach: Address child labour as a rights and entitlement issue, not only a legal one, by tackling root causes like poverty, illiteracy, and social norms.
Key Drivers of the Problem
Poverty, unemployment, and weak social protection systems.
Poor quality or inaccessible education.
Cultural acceptance of children working, especially in rural areas.
Attraction of urban life and early economic independence.
Gender roles and discrimination.
Legal & Policy Framework
Aligns with Constitutional rights (Art. 21A, 23, 24, 39), national laws (Child and Adolescent Labour Act, JJ Act, RTE Act), and international commitments (CRC, ILO Conventions 138 & 182).
Bihar-specific rules: Bihar Child & Adolescent Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Rules, 2024.
Strategic Focus Areas (7 Pillars)
Community & Social Norm Change – Awareness campaigns, engagement with guardians, trade bodies, and media.
District Task Force for Strict Implementation of Act– Tailored interventions by prevalence level.
Quality Education Access – School strengthening, teacher capacity, re-enrolment drives.
Health & Nutrition – Immediate medical care, mental health support, sanitation.
Economic Empowerment – Linking families to jobs, credit, housing, food security.
Adolescent Empowerment – Vocational skills, life skills, financial literacy.
Data & Tracking Systems – Strengthening the Child Labour Tracking System (CLTS).
Convergence & Stakeholder Roles
Labour Resources Department (Nodal) – Surveys, enforcement, rehabilitation, coordination.
Coordination with 20+ state departments (Social Welfare, Education, SC/ST Welfare, Panchayati Raj, Health, Urban/Rural Development, etc.), plus police, judiciary, Indian Railways, SSB, NGOs, trade unions, and UNICEF.
Multi-level Task Forces – State, district, block, and Gram Panchayat level.
Monitoring & Recognition
Regular reviews via State Task Force and other levels.
Special prizes for child-labour-free Gram Panchayats, Blocks, and Districts
🌟 Appreciation for the Labour Resources Department
The Labour Resources Department, Government of Bihar deserves commendation for:
Taking a holistic, convergence-based approach — linking legal enforcement with social, economic, health, and educational measures.
Building strong multi-department and multi-stakeholder partnerships (from grassroots committees to international bodies like UNICEF).
Prioritising data-driven action through CLTS, ensuring rescued children are tracked, rehabilitated, and reintegrated.
Recognising that elimination of child labour requires not only rescuing children but changing societal attitudes and improving family livelihoods.
Instituting incentives that celebrate local bodies achieving child-labour-free status, motivating community ownership.
| Stakeholder | Role in the Action Plan |
|---|---|
| Labour Resources Department (Nodal) | Leads implementation, surveys, rescues, rehabilitation, inter-department coordination |
| Social Welfare Dept. | Child protection services, rehabilitation, care homes, CWC operations |
| Education Dept. | Enrolment/re-enrolment, school quality, teacher training |
| SC/ST Welfare Dept. | Welfare schemes for marginalised communities, education support |
| Panchayati Raj Dept. | Local governance mobilisation, vulnerability mapping, prevention at community level |
| Health Dept. | Medical check-ups, mental health, immunisation for rescued children |
| Urban Development Dept. | Urban rehabilitation, housing, livelihoods |
| Rural Development Dept. | MNREGA, rural livelihoods, poverty reduction |
| Home Dept. / Police | Law enforcement, raids/rescues, FIRs |
| Judiciary | Fast-track trials, justice delivery |
| Labour Enforcement Machinery | Inspections, prosecutions |
| Indian Railways | Child protection at stations, help desks, Operation AAHT, staff sensitisation |
| Railway Protection Force (RPF) | Patrol railway premises, detect/intercept trafficking, coordinate rescues with GRP/police |
| Transport Department | Train bus staff to detect/report trafficking, awareness campaigns, reporting mechanisms |
| Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) | Border surveillance, rapid response to trafficking alerts, community awareness along Indo-Nepal border |
| NGOs & Civil Society Orgs | Awareness, rescue assistance, rehabilitation follow-up |
| Trade Unions & Employers’ Associations | Advocacy, self-regulation, child-labour-free supply chains |
| Media | Public awareness, behaviour change messaging |
| UNICEF & Development Partners | Technical support, training, research |
| Task Forces (State/District/Block/Gram Panchayat) | Convergence, local monitoring, ground-level action |
| Community Leaders & Parents | Prevention, vigilance, fostering a child rights culture |
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