But the group’s task isn’t easy. For instance, agriculture in India is a group activity in the family, so it’s tricky to bar children from helping on the farm.

Meanwhile, on the recent reports of children being used in cottonseeds in some states, the Centre has written to the concerned states — Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat — asking them if they could put the occupation on the hazardous list under the law. Since labour is a concurrent subject under the Constitution, the Centre cannot amend laws unilaterally.

Labour pains

• Child Labour Technical Advisory Committee recommended that nine more processes be added to the list of hazardous occupations and processes under the law where children cannot be employed.

• The list includes 15 occupations and 57 processes and will now be expanded to cover processes involving excessive heat and cold, mechanised fishing, timber handling and loading, food processing, beverages industry, diving and mechanical lumbering

• Consultations already taken place with the states on the issue

• Complete overhaul of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986 also on cards

• The scourge most prevalent in Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra