The Chief Minister's Office of Rajasthan on Friday, June 12, 2026 — World Day Against Child Labour — issued a public call urging citizens to pledge collective action against child labour and ensure every rescued child reaches the doors of education. Posting in Hindi on the occasion of the annual observance, the CMO wrote: 'हंसता-खेलता हो हर बचपन, बाल श्रम से मुक्त कराएँ बचपन!' ('Let every childhood be full of laughter and play — let us free childhood from child labour!'). The post called on all citizens to raise their voices against child labour and, wherever they see a child working, to help free that child and connect them to schooling.

Context

World Day Against Child Labour is observed every year on June 12, established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to spotlight the global effort to eliminate child labour and protect children's right to education and development. The day serves as a focal point for governments, civil society and communities to renew commitments and amplify awareness campaigns. Rajasthan, with a significant informal economy spanning agriculture, handicrafts and small industry, has been among the states where child labour remains a concern. The CMO's post aligns state-level messaging with the broader national and international framework on this annual occasion.

Policy Backdrop

India has built a layered legal and programmatic architecture to combat child labour over three decades. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 banned employment of children under 14 years in all occupations and tightened regulation of adolescent work in hazardous sectors, introducing stricter penalties for violations. Complementing the ban, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 guarantees free schooling for children aged 6 to 14, directly linking education access with the goal of eliminating child labour. The National Child Labour Project Scheme, launched in 1988, has provided a framework for identifying, rescuing and rehabilitating child labourers through special schools and skill training. Together, these measures reflect India's commitments under SDG Target 8.7, which calls for ending child labour in all its forms by 2025.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of anti-child-labour efforts are children in low-income households who are most vulnerable to being pulled into informal work. Families under economic stress, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, brick kilns, carpet weaving and domestic work, are the key social context in which child labour persists. State education and labour departments are the principal implementing agencies, responsible for rescue operations, enrolment drives and rehabilitation. The CMO's public messaging on a high-visibility international day is aimed at activating community-level vigilance — encouraging ordinary citizens to report and intervene when they encounter a working child.

What's Next

The June 12 observance typically precedes intensified inspection and rescue drives by state labour and education departments in the weeks that follow. School enrolment campaigns targeting out-of-school children are often timed to coincide with the start of the academic year. Observers will watch for follow-up announcements from Rajasthan's labour and school education departments on rescue numbers, rehabilitation placements and enrolment figures as the state translates awareness messaging into on-ground action.