Gandhinagar, June 16: A two-day inter-state dialogue was held at the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIA) in Gandhinagar, emphasizing the need to ensure that the children of migrant workers do not fall outside the realms of education, healthcare, and safety systems.
During the inaugural session, Gujarat’s Minister of Labor, Skill Development, and Employment, Kunwarji Bawaliya, stated that while migration is essential for India’s economic growth, it often places children at a higher risk of exploitation, trafficking, and child labor.
Bawaliya stressed that ensuring safe migration and eliminating child labor is a social, economic, and humanitarian responsibility that must be collectively addressed. He highlighted the need for labor policies to extend beyond administrative frameworks to reach every worker’s family and child.
The workshop, held on the occasion of ‘World Day Against Child Labor,’ saw participation from representatives of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, along with policymakers, child rights organizations, and subject matter experts. They discussed strategies to prevent child labor and protect vulnerable children.
Bawaliya noted that migrant workers play a crucial role in advancing development across industries, construction, services, and agriculture, describing them as pillars of nation-building. As one of India’s leading industrial states, Gujarat attracts millions of workers from across the country, significantly contributing to the state’s economy.
However, he acknowledged that migration often disrupts children’s education, limits access to healthcare, and leaves many children outside social security and child protection systems. Such conditions can lead to child labor, trafficking, and other forms of exploitation.
The minister mentioned that the state has strengthened district-level task forces working to eliminate child and adolescent labor and improved coordination among government departments involved in child rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
Efforts are also underway to enhance online registration for workers, raise awareness, and expand social security coverage. He emphasized that eradicating child labor requires more than just legal action; it is essential to ensure that every child has access to quality education, a safe environment, healthcare, and equal opportunities for development.
Dharmishta Gajjar, Chairperson of the Gujarat State Child Rights Protection Commission, described child labor not just as a legal violation but as a direct assault on children’s rights, aspirations, and futures. She asserted that every child has an equal right to a safe childhood, quality education, security, and a dignified life.
Labor Commissioner K.D. Lakhani stated that child labor should be viewed as a comprehensive social issue linked to education, nutrition, health, and social security.
Praveen Solanki, Director General of the Mahatma Gandhi Labor Institute, remarked that child labor cannot be separated from broader socio-economic realities.
Dr. Narayan Gavkar, Chief Field Office Representative of UNICEF, noted that Gujarat’s industrial development has attracted a large influx of people from other states and emphasized that economic growth should not come at the expense of children’s education, health, or safety.
He added that UNICEF has collaborated with governments and institutions for several years to combat child labor, focusing on empowering families to prevent vulnerability, assisting adolescents through education and skill development, and ensuring uninterrupted access to schooling.
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