RIGHTS OF THE VULNERABLE I 87 Secretary on 23 August 2001. The report has provided an encouraging account of the improvement in the child labour situation in the carpet-belt as a result of the continuous monitoring on behalf of the Commission. It also commended the improvement in the functioning of the NCLP schools which are being visited by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission. The report, however, brought to light serious deficiencies in the implementation of schemes in glass-bangle region of Ferozabad. 8.26 A special workshop, organised by the Special Rapporteur in Ferozabad on 7 January 2002 was attended by the Labour Commissioner and Inspector of Factories, Uttar Pradesh, the District Magistrate and other officers of Ferozabad and 11 NGOs involvedin the running of the NCLP schools. Dr Zutshi explained in detail the findings of his study and the District Magistrate, Ferozabad promised remedial action, which is to be monitored by the Commission. Dr Zutshi has also organised an Awareness Generation Workshop for NGOs/parents of children inVaranasi on 20 October 2001, a Master Trainers Training in Mirzapur from 20-24 October, 2001 and a Non-Formal Education Teachers Training Programme in Varanasi from 27 October - 3 November, 2001. He received help from UNESCO, New Delhi and the International Bureau of Education, Geneva. Project Directors of the NCLP in Varanasi, Mirzapur and Bhadoi and 37 teachers selected firom NCLP schools of Varanasi,Bhadoi, Mirzapur and Allahabad benefited from these workshops. 8.27 While continuing its drive to end child labour, the Commission is constrained to observe that, despite the repeated pronouncements of the Supreme Court and monitoring by various agencies including the Commission itself, widespread child labour persists in the coimtry. There are many reasons for this including, regrettably, the inherent deficiencies in the existing legislation relating to child laboiu*. Article 24 of the Constitution provides 'that no child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed in work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment'. The Commission holds the view that the term 'hazardous' should necessarily be interpreted with reference to what is hazardous for the child, and not merely in relation to certain processes/occupations being categorised as hazardous, which is the approach adopted in the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1976. The Commission is strongly of the view that the entire issue of child labour must be viewed through the perspective of the rights of the child.In this perspective. Article 24 of the Constitution must be read with Articles 21, 39(e) and 39 (f) ^d 45 and also with the provisions of the principal United Nations human rights treaties including, above all, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 which has been ratified by India. The present situation is clearly unacceptable. For all of the efforts made, there ANNUAL REPORT 2001-2002