The following is the English rendering of the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s speech delivered in Hindi at the National Conference on Child Labour here today:

“It gives me great pleasure to be here at the National Conference on Elimination of Child Labour.

UNICEF, in one of its annual reports, has evocatively observed: “The day will come when nations will be judged not by their military or economic strength, nor by the splendor of their capital cities and public buildings but by the well being of their people; … by the provision that is made for those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged, and by the protection that is afforded to the growing minds and bodies of their children.”

India fully subscribes to this ideal, this universal aspiration. We believe that the right to a joyful childhood, leading to a life full of opportunities, is the fundamental right of every child. Our children are the future of our nation. We are committed to nurture them through their childhood and their most impressionable and formative years, so that they can realize their full potential and contribute richly to the development of their motherland.

However, the continued existence of millions of working children in our society is a reminder of the extent of the task that lies ahead of us. As per the 1991 census, their number is 11.28 million. This is a staggering figure. It is also a pointer that the responsibility for elimination of child labour cannot be compartmentalized and left to any one Ministry or Department of Government. I am happy that this conference shows a close collaboration between the Ministries of Labour and Human Resource Development.

The sheer magnitude of the problem, as also its multifaceted nature, makes it imperative that we adopt a holistic approach, involving the entire society. This alone can make a difference.

Since Independence, our country has overcome many problems through the combined efforts of the Central and State Governments, private sector, and non-governmental organizations. Infant mortality rate has declined by half from 146 per thousand in 1951 to 72 per thousand or below now. Life expectancy has also grown from 32 years in 1951 to 63 years.

We have reached a literacy rate of over 60 percent, which was just 18 percent in 1951. However, there is great imbalance across the country in the area of children’s education and welfare. We have States like Kerala, where nearly all the children in the age group of six to fourteen years are attending schools. Himachal Pradesh, too, is moving towards this distinction. This contrasts starkly with the poor performance in several other States in the north and the east. Even in these States, wherever educational reform programs are implemented, we see a progressively higher enrolment in schools. There is also a visible decline in the school drop out rate.

These are positive signals. They show that, with collective and committed efforts, we can certainly achieve universal education and 100 percent literacy. Doing so would be a big step towards elimination of child labour.

Hence, my sincere appeal to all the District Collectors who have gathered here is this: Go all out to strengthen the partnership between the Government, non-governmental educational institutions, voluntary organizations, and business establishments in your respective districts. Expand and improve the network of both formal and non-formal educational activities, so that no family with a working child is left out.

Concentrate, especially, on working girls. Her educational needs are usually neglected both by her family and by the society at large. Education of girls and young women is critical for achieving many of our important goals in social development. By investing in them, we invest in India's future.

Friends, 2001 is the Year for Women’s Empowerment. It would be befitting that, at this juncture, the programs are restructured to pay special attention to working girls.

We should ensure that working children not only come to schools, but are also retained in the formal system. The enforcement machinery will have to gear itself with great vigilance and sensitivity.

I appeal to the employers to join the national efforts by actively and voluntarily discouraging the employment of children in industries and other economic activities. Their visible presence in this effort will keep middlemen at bay.

Even though elimination of child labour is our goal, in the transition period our effort should be to create adequate and easily accessible educational opportunities for working children. For example, restaurants and other such clusters of economic activity in the unorganized sector employ many children. These children live far away from their homes, with little social security. We should make it the responsibility of the employers to create, with the help of NGOs, suitable educational facilities for such children. They could, for instance, set aside their own premises for conducting classes in evening hours.

Many poor children, especially girls, work as domestic help in our country. It should be made the responsibility of the families that employ them to take care of their education. They should be given leave for a few hours each day, so that they can attend classes in nearby schools. There are some NGOs in our cities, which have set up non-formal neighborhood schools specifically to cater to the educational needs of such children. Many socially conscious housewives have been working in such neighborhood schools in their spare time in the afternoons. These NGOs should be supported fully.

Friends, working children need not only education, but also protection of their dignity, which is one of the few personal possessions they can have. Unfortunately, they are frequently robbed of this. Sometimes, even the police do not behave properly with them. It is an experience that leaves almost a permanent scar on their psyche. What we need at all levels is greater sensitivity and compassion; a humane and helpful attitude that recognizes that these children are a precious asset of our society who, with proper help, can have a bright future ahead of them.

I would like that National Awards be instituted to encourage and recognize the efforts being made by various organizations in the field of elimination and rehabilitation of child labour. Such awards could be instituted even in districts.

The will of the nation and the commitment of the Central and State governments to eliminate child labour are abundantly reflected in the Constitution and in several other laws of the land. In keeping with the National Child Labour Policy, we have been both active and proactive in tackling this problem. We have launched the National Child Labour Projects in areas of high concentration of this problem. Further, our various anti-poverty policies have also focussed attention on these areas.

The problem of child labour is fundamentally a problem of poverty. The principal aim of economic reforms is to eradicate poverty, so that we can also eradicate several problems of underdevelopment, including child labour. Our Government has taken many initiatives to accelerate and broaden economic reforms. I am confident that these reforms will enable India to achieve faster economic growth and to remove both regional and social imbalances in development. I urge all sections of our society to further strengthen the consensus behind the process of economic reforms.

Friends, I would like to use this occasion to share my thoughts on some other subjects with District Collectors who have gathered here today. It is not often that we call them to New Delhi. This conference, therefore, is an opportunity for me to have a direct interaction with them.

A district collector is a very important link between our people and the Government. Indeed, he or she is the face of the administration at the local level. Most of the Government’s policies and programs, especially in the social sector, are implemented through district administration. Besides the onerous responsibility of law and order, you are also required to facilitate and assist trade, business, and industry in your respective districts. From polio eradication to population control, from investment promotion to orderly management of mega-events like the Kumbh — a district collector is expected to carry out a hundred different tasks, like a true all-rounder.

I really admire district collectors for their ability to carry the burden of so many tasks on their shoulders. Often, these are young shoulders. A civil servant’s posting usually begins from the sub-district level. I have met with many young officers as district collectors, and their energy, enthusiasm, and idealism always impresses me. These qualities should be retained throughout your career.

I applaud you for your good work. However, I would also like you to know that both the Government and the people have very high expectations from the district administration. There is a tremendous hunger for development all across the country, especially among those who have been deprived of even the basic benefits of development.

Our people are no longer satisfied with promises from their elected representatives and governments. They want good governance and performance. It would not be wrong to say that they are impatient for performance. As election after election in recent times have shown, they reward those who perform and show the door to non-performers. All political parties have had this experience in India's increasingly demanding democracy.

I know that elected representatives and their governments have their own specific responsibilities to deliver good governance. At the same time, all governments, irrespective of which party or coalition runs them, depend on the district administration to improve their performance. I, therefore, urge you to gear up the administration at the district level to both meet unfulfilled targets and goals, and also to face new challenges emerging on the horizon.

In discharging your responsibilities, you should actively enlist the participation of the people and their elected responsibilities. Work in close concert with Zilla Parishads. Rope in NGOs, voluntary organizations, and religious establishments. There is a tremendous potential in them to do constructive work.

As Vinoba Bhave used to say, “Asarakari, asarkari hota hai” — which means, non-Governmental work is effective work. I would only add that, when sarakari and asarakari efforts are combined, they become ten times more asarkari.

Dear District Collectors, you are an influential person in your district; therefore, lead by personal example. A good district collector is fondly remembered by the people long after he leaves. People’s admiration and regard is the highest recognition for a civil servant.

With these words, I inaugurate this national conference on child labour and wish it all success.

Thank you”.