The United States has invested $20 million in India to eliminate child labour from hazardous industries, according to US Consul General Henry V Jardine.
"The US Labour Department has contributed $20 million to the INDUS project, the largest programme ever supported by the department outside the United States, which aims to ensure child labour elimination from hazardous industries in 21 districts," he said while inaugurating a seminar in Kolkata on Monday.
Jardine said the districts selected for the project were spread across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and NCT Delhi.
The programme works in conjunction with the government's National Child Labour Project, Jardine said. India has also contributed $20 million for the project.
Quoting ILO estimates, he said there are over 200 million children between the age of five to 14 years employed across the world.
"The Asia Pacific region holds the dubious distinction of having the highest number of working children -- over 122 million. Many of the worst forms of child labour are still important concerns for the region, including bonded forced labour, child trafficking and prostitution," said Jardine.
Investing in education is a sound economic decision, he said. According to a recent ILO study, elimination of child labour and its replacement by universal education will yield major social and economic benefits.
"Globally, the benefits exceed costs by a ratio of more than 6 to 1," he said.
