Uttar Pradesh launches drive to identify child labourers and bring them back to school

The Uttar Pradesh government has begun a special campaign aimed at identifying child labourers and ensuring their return to the formal education system. The drive, which started on March 12, will continue till March 25 across several districts, including Kanpur.

Officials from the labour department, district administration and the education department have formed joint teams to conduct inspections in markets, small factories and commercial establishments where children are often employed. Authorities say the objective is not only to identify cases of child labour but also to rehabilitate the children through education.

Children found working during the inspections will be enrolled in nearby schools and provided support through government welfare schemes. The state government plans to link such students with programmes like the Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana, which offers financial assistance to encourage schooling.

Officials said the campaign is part of a broader effort to curb child labour while strengthening school enrolment and retention. District administrations have also been asked to coordinate with local education officers to ensure that rescued children are integrated into classrooms without delay.