Number of child workers declines

The number of child laborers aged 14 or below in India dropped to 4.5 million in 2011 from 12.6 million a decade before, said the country's labor minister, urging lawmakers to approve planned changes to existing legislation to curb the problem.

Labor Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told India's lower house of parliament on Monday the government will amend a three-decade-old child labor prohibition law, and called on both houses of parliament to support its passage.

"I gave a notice in the winter session, but it could not be passed. This session too, it could not be passed though I gave notice," Dattatreya said.