“PENCIL Portal” to Report Instances of Child Labour

What is the News? Union Minister of Women and Child Development appealed to citizens to report the instances of Child Labour on the PENCIL Portal or by calling on Childline-1098. This appeal came on World Day Against Child Labour.

About PENCIL Portal:

• PENCIL Portal stands for Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour.
• Purpose: It is an electronic platform that aims at achieving the target of a child labour free society. For this aim, it coordinates actions of the Centre, State, District, Governments, civil society, and the public.
• Nodal Ministry: The portal is administered by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• Components: PENCIL Portal has five components- Child Tracking System, Complaint Corner, State Government, National Child Labour Project, and Convergence.
• Significance: The portal has been launched for the effective implementation of the Child Labour Act and the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme.
  • NCLP aims to eliminate all forms of child labour and rehabilitate them through education in Special Training Centres.

About CHILDLINE 1098:

• CHILDLINE 1098 is a free, emergency phone service for children in need of aid and assistance.
• The helpline responds to the emergency needs of children. Further, it also links them to relevant services for their long-term care and rehabilitation.
• The helpline is managed and monitored by the CHILDLINE India Foundation(CIF).

About World Day Against Child Labour:

• World Day Against Child Labour is observed on 12 June every year.
• It was started in 2002 by International Labour Organization(ILO) to raise awareness and prevent child labour.
• Theme: “Act now: End child labour”.

About CHILDLINE India Foundation(CIF):

• CHILDLINE India Foundation(CIF) is the nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Purpose: It acts as the parent organisation for setting up, managing, and monitoring the childline 1098 service all over the country.
• It is also the sole agency responsible for monitoring childline service delivery and finance, training, research, and documentation, creating awareness, advocacy as well as resource generation for the service.

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Source: PIB