The elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions are responsible for local
self-governance that includes making arrangements for water, health, sanitation, education,
upkeep of roads, lighting arrangements, planting of trees, keeping the village clean and
maintaining law and order. Hence, their involvement and contribution in implementation of
any policy, legislation or rehabilitation effort is very high. Having been elected directly by the
people and having grown up in the same environment, the members of PRIs wield
considerable influence over the people in their area.
In the case of child labour, the responsibility of the elected representatives of
Panchayati Raj Institutions in the area of education is of extreme importance. If the children
are to be educated, they need to have the time to attend school and do their studies instead
of being employed as child labourers. The elected members of the Village Panchayat, can
bring about change in the mindset of people who have the tendency to accept child labour as
a way of life and who are not generally sensitive to its negative effects.
Hence, the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions they need to be
adequately sensitized on the issue of child labour, made aware of the various policies and
laws that prohibit child labour. This can be only achieved through sensitization and
orientation training. Therefore, this training programme has been designed for this group that
would include ideas on the action the members of the PRIs can contribute to prevention and
elimination of child labour, to strengthen enforcement of laws, and in educational
rehabilitation of child labour and economic rehabilitation of their families.

The course will familiarise scholars and practitioners on techniques and methods in
historical research on labour and labour relations. The course will enable the
participants to understand contemporary transformations in the world of work in a
historical perspective and familiarise them with the different approaches to history of
labour. It will also equip them to undertake systematic research on labour history.