In the past five years, Gujarat has freed 616 children from child labour as part of its efforts to combat this serious issue. This initiative has led to the collection of over ₹72.88 lakh in fines from those employing child labourers. The Office of the Labour Commissioner has been actively involved in this campaign, conducting over 4,824 raids across the state. This includes 455 child labourers and 161 adolescents rescued during these operations from January 2020 to April 2025. The state has also filed 791 criminal cases against offenders, with 339 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered under child labour laws.
The Indian Constitution prohibits the employment of children in hazardous industries under Article 23. To further strengthen this law, the government passed the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, which bans the employment of children aged 0 to 14 in any form of work. It also regulates the employment of adolescents aged 14 to 18 in non-hazardous jobs, ensuring they are not exploited.
Every year on June 12, the World Day Against Child Labour is observed to raise awareness about this issue. The theme for this year, 2025, is ‘Safe and Healthy Generation,’ focusing on improving the health and safety of young workers and eliminating all forms of child labour.
In Gujarat, the Labour Commissioner’s office has established a special district task force in each district to enforce these laws. This task force meets regularly to plan raids aimed at rescuing child workers. After rescue, children are placed in children’s homes and eventually returned to their families after proper evaluation by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Non-Gujarati children are also returned to their families safely through their respective CWCs. For those families facing economic hardships, the district industry centre offers various employment schemes to support their financial stability.
One recent operation in Ahmedabad led to the rescue of a 10-year-old boy from a sweet-making factory, just before the World Day Against Child Labour. The district task force acted on a tip-off and found the child working in conditions that violated the law. The factory owner faced strict legal action as a result.
The ongoing efforts in Gujarat reflect a strong commitment to eradicating child labour and ensuring that children have the opportunity to grow up in a safe and supportive environment. The government aims to continue these efforts, working in partnership with local communities and organizations to protect the rights of children and provide them with a better future. The fight against child labour is crucial for the progress of society, as every child deserves a chance to learn and thrive in a nurturing environment, rather than being subjected to labour at a young age.
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