Time-Bound Programme towards eradicating all forms of worst forms of child labour by 2015.77 The programme’s approaches include development and realization of the regulatory and monitoring systems for the implementation of the Action Plan.78 It also includes provisions for non-formal education, skills improvement training for the children and socio-economic empowerment programme for their families.79 National Children Policy, 2011 pledges that the Government would appoint an ‘Ombudsman for the Children’.80 Although the Ombudsman lacks coercive powers, the significant role of the office of Ombudsman in ensuring accountability of public officials is well recognised. The Ombudsman may not only make recommendations on the basis of investigations in individual cases but also through circulating reports on the functioning of public officials may uncover systemic problems in the public administration. But although years have gone by since the adoption of the Policy, neither any law has been passed nor even a bill on the appointment of an ‘Ombudsman for the Children’ is under consideration in the Parliament. This is even more disconcerting if we note that it has been recommended by the HCD in State v Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Others,81 that in concordance with its commitment to the Committee of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Government establish an Ombudsman for Children/Children’s Commissioner/National Juvenile Justice Forum under the chairmanship of a senior sitting Judge of the SC. The HCD has expressed the hope that this body would be given powers to issue directives on the subordinate judiciary and other appropriate public bodies on issues pertinent to justice for children. Clearly this type of a body has been conceived as 77 Decent Work Country Programme, above note 15. For a comprehensive list of initiatives by the Government, ILO, and other international organizations, and NGOs, see National Plan of Action 20122016, above note 3, at 9-12. 78 Ibid. 79 Ibid. 80 Children Policy, 2011 above note 28, para 10.3. 81 State v Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Others (2010) 30 BLD (HCD) 369, at para 6. 19