National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme

Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme	National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme
Launch Year	1988
Benefits	Rehabilitation through Special Training Centres, including bridge education, vocational training, nutrition, health care and a stipend.
Beneficiary	Children withdrawn from child labour and adolescents engaged in hazardous work.
Nodal Agency	Ministry of Labour & Employment
Subscription	Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Apply	Through Samagra Shiksha

National Child Labour Project (NCLP): What It Was and Where Children Get Help Now

The National Child Labour Project (NCLP) helped thousands of children leave work and return to school. It is no longer a standalone scheme, so there is nothing to apply for under its name. This post explains what NCLP did and how to get help for a child today.

NCLP has ended as a standalone scheme. It was subsumed into Samagra Shiksha with effect from 1 April 2021. There is no fresh enrolment and no “NCLP apply online” process in 2026. To report a child labour case, call Child Helpline 1098 (details below).

What was NCLP?

NCLP was launched in 1988 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to withdraw children from child labour in districts with a high concentration of it, and to support their education and rehabilitation. It was fully funded by the Central Government.

District Project Societies, headed by the District Collector or District Magistrate, coordinated the work. Special Training Centres (STCs) helped children bridge their learning gaps before they entered regular schools. By 31 March 2023, around 14.3 lakh children had reportedly been withdrawn from work, rehabilitated and mainstreamed.

Scheme at a glance

What support did NCLP provide?

These benefits describe the former framework and cannot be claimed today through a new NCLP application.

• Bridge education to cover learning gaps and prepare for regular school
• Vocational and pre-vocational training
• A monthly stipend, initially ₹150 per child and later raised to ₹400, subject to payment and attendance rules
• Cooked meals, through coordination with the mid-day meal programme
• Health check-ups and basic health care
• Learning materials and recreational activities
• Admission help into neighbourhood schools after special training
• Skill-development links for adolescents withdrawn from hazardous work
• Linkage of families with welfare, livelihood, health and social security programmes
• Follow-up support after mainstreaming, to reduce the risk of a child returning to work

How Special Training Centres worked

• Mainly served children aged 9 to 14
• Generally 15 to 50 children per centre
• About 5 hours a day, 6 days a week
• Training modules of at least 3 months, preferably up to 6, depending on the child’s needs
• A child could stay up to 2 years, depending on progress, before being mainstreamed into formal school
• Centres were set up in areas where child labour was concentrated

Age-wise approach

Who was covered?

These were the historical conditions:

• Working children below 14
• Out-of-school children aged 5 to 8, who were linked directly to school
• Adolescents aged 14 to 18 in hazardous occupations or processes
• Children were usually identified through surveys, inspections, rescue operations or other district-level mechanisms, not by applying

What happens now?

Children identified or rescued from child labour can receive educational rehabilitation through the special-training and school-education mechanisms under Samagra Shiksha, along with other child-protection and welfare services. For information on the current enrolment process and documents, contact your District Labour Office, district administration or education authorities.

How to report child labour

There is no form to fill. Use these channels instead:

1. Call Child Helpline 1098 for a child in distress or needing immediate help. It runs 24×7 and is integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112).
2. Report the case to the District Labour Office or Labour Department for action under the child labour laws.
3. You can also approach the District Magistrate, district administration, police or the appropriate child-protection authority, especially when immediate action is needed.
4. After the child is withdrawn from work, the authorities coordinate education, rehabilitation, care and other support.

Related schemes

• Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya: residential schooling for eligible girls
• PM CARES for Children Scheme: education, care and support for eligible children who lost parents or caregivers to COVID-19

Contact details

• Ministry of Labour & Employment (Child & Women Labour and PENCiL Portal division): 011-23711354
• Email: sv.ramana@nic.in
• Address: 301-A, Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi 110001

Frequently asked questions

Is NCLP still operational?
No. It was subsumed into Samagra Shiksha from 1 April 2021.

Can I apply for NCLP online in 2026?
No. There is no NCLP application process.

What happened to children covered by NCLP?
The support for educational rehabilitation continues through the special-training and school-education mechanisms under Samagra Shiksha.

How can I report a child labour case?
Call Child Helpline 1098, or inform the District Labour Office, district administration or police.

Which ministry ran NCLP?
The Ministry of Labour & Employment.