New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh has the dubious distinction of having the largest number of working children - 19.27 lakh - in the country followed by Andhra Pradesh (13.63 lakh), Rajasthan (12.62 lakh) and Bihar (11.17 lakh).
Other states having a significant number of working children are Madhya Pradesh with 10.65 lakh, West Bengal with 8.57 lakh, Karnataka 8.22 lakh and Maharashtra 7.64 lakh, as per the 2001 Census.
However, 13 states and Union Territories witnessed a decline in working children population while 18 states witnessed an increase during the period from 1991 to 2001, official sources said.
Among these states and UTs are Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep, Goa, Daman and Diu, Punjab, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.
The total number of working children in the country is over 12.66 million.
With a figure of mere 27, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep has the minimum number of working child.
The sources said the Government proposed to extend the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) scheme during the 11th Five-Year Plan to all remaining districts having a reasonable number of working children in hazardous occupations in the 5-14 age group in various states and UTs.
The NCLP Scheme is at present operational in 250 districts.
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