New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS): The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has been seeking support and cooperation from various authorities to make Delhi 'Child Labour-Free' by 2023.

The DCPCR has reached out to Chairpersons, District Development Committees and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

It has sought intervention in three areas -- ensuring monthly meetings of the district task force for rescue and rehabilitation of child labourers; ensuring efficient utilization of the child labour fund for rehabilitation of the rescued children and helping in awareness generation about the menace of child labour.

The MLAs have been requested to popularize child helpline number 1098 and DCPCR's Whatsapp number 9599001855 for reporting child labour.

Being the Chairperson of their respective District Development Committees, the MLAs shall be frequently interacting with the District Magistrate, other departmental officers, representatives of Resident Welfare Associations, market, mandi, industrial associations besides the public at large, the DCPCR said in a statement.

"Thus, the MLAs can raise the issue of child labour with all the stakeholders as well as the public and thereby help the Commission in eradicating child labour from Delhi," it said.

Keeping in view the snowballing menace of child labour during the pandemic, the DCPCR has remained engaged in evolving a long-term strategy to make Delhi 'Child Labour-Free' by 2023.

Besides coordinating for regular rescue operations, a number of measures have already been initiated by the DCPCR such as tracking of rescued children, monitoring meetings of the district task force, reaching out to civil society partners for information of instances of child labour and monitoring transfer of compensation, back wages.