What is PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination?
PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) is an electronic platform launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to eliminate child labour in India and rehabilitate rescued child labourers. PENCIL integrates all stakeholders — Central Government, State Governments, District administration, civil society, and public — through a single digital platform for: (1) Complaint registration about child labour (online/phone); (2) Tracking of rescued child labourers; (3) National Child Labour Project (NCLP) schools management — where rescued children aged 9-14 get bridge education, vocational training, and nutrition; (4) Real-time dashboard of child labour in districts across India. The Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act 1986 (amended 2016) prohibits employment of children below 14 in ALL occupations and employment of adolescents (14-18) in hazardous occupations. PENCIL enables citizens to report child labour and track action. Rescued children are admitted to NCLP Special Training Centres (STCs) for up to 2 years bridge education before mainstreaming into regular schools.
PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination — Quick Overview
| Scheme Name | PENCIL Platform 2026 — Platform for Effective Enforcement of No Child Labour: Report & Rehabilitate |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2017 |
| Benefit | Mechanism to report and rescue child labourers + Rescued children get bridge education at NCLP centres + Vocational training + Stipend ₹150-300/month for students at NCLP centres + Mainstreaming into regular schools |
| Category | Education |
| Last Verified | 27 May 2026 |
| Official Portal | https://pencil.gov.in |
Benefits of PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination
Mechanism to report and rescue child labourers + Rescued children get bridge education at NCLP centres + Vocational training + Stipend ₹150-300/month for students at NCLP centres + Mainstreaming into regular schools
Who is Eligible for PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination?
- ✓Any citizen can file complaint about child labour on pencil.gov.in or call 14567 (NLSA helpline)
- ✓Rescued child labourers aged 9-14 are admitted to NCLP Special Training Centres (no eligibility criteria — all rescued children qualify)
- ✓Parents of rescued children receive counselling and livelihood support
- ✓District magistrates and labour officers implement PENCIL enforcement
Documents Required for PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination
How to Apply for PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination Online?
- 1To REPORT child labour: Visit pencil.gov.in → 'Complaint' section → Fill details of location and child
- 2Alternatively, call toll-free 14567 (National Legal Services Authority helpline)
- 3District administration receives alert, conducts raid, rescues child labourers
- 4Rescued child enrolled in NCLP Special Training Centre in the district
- 5NCLP centre provides: bridge education (Class 1-8 equivalent), vocational training, mid-day meal, health check-ups
- 6After 2 years: Child mainstreamed into regular government school (Class 5-8 based on learning level)
Official Government Portal
Submit your application yourself on pencil.gov.in; it costs nothing. Treat anyone demanding money to "get you approved" as a scam.
🔗Apply on pencil.gov.in