NEW DELHI. Apr 3: A •enior -official said on f rid ay that India planned to tighten up its child labour laws but would strongly resist a US sponsored move to Introduce labour-related clauses in the new World Trade Organisation (WTO), reports Reuter.

A pressure group campaign ing for an end Jo child labour meanwhile began a cross-coun try march to publicise what it called an "Inhuman practice."

The employment of children aged under 14 Is theoretically illegal but officials estimate nearly 20 million children work in various industries. Non-government organisations put the figure at around 55 million.

"Although our labour laws are better than most other countries in the world, we are taking a second look at our child labour laws with a view to further liberalising them," said MN Buch. Additional Secretary In the Labour Ministry.

Buch said laws could be improved by enlarging the list of Jobs banned for children as hazardous and also by providing more facilities for employed children.

"The. government is already looking into a set of proposals in this regard and should come out with a response sooner rather than later.” he said, without giving details.

The South Asian coalition on child servitude on Friday began a. 5,000 km (3.125 mile) march demanding total abolition of child labour in India by 2000.

The march, to end to Delhi on April 24, will pass through states where child labour is concentrated such as Tamil Nadu. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the south, Maharashtra in central India and Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the north.

Our alm Is to make people" aware of this inhuman practice.” said organiser Kailash

Satyarthi. The group staged a 2.000 km (1.240 mile) march In February last year.

Washington wants to put trade.and labour conditions on the agenda of the new World Trade Organisation (WTO), which is due to absorb the General'Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

A meeting of ministers from 121 Countries in Morocco this month. Intended-to’celebrate the end of GATT negotiations, is expected to be dominated by the US proposal.

Over 80 per cent of India's child workers are employed on farms, many as bonded labour working to repay parents’ debts, and in roadside tea stalls.

The remaining 20 per cent work in Industries such as tanning, explosives, fireworks, match manufacturing, carpet weaving, cloth printing anj! dyeing, all of which the government has banned as dahgerous for children.

India, like other developing nations, plans to resist the US proposal in Morocco. It says cheap labour Including child labour is the only advantage it has ID world markets.

India s export-oriented industries such as textiles and carpets employ a large number of children.

The G-15 group of developing nations that met last week in Delhi decided to resist the American proposal.

India officially banned the employment of children aged under 14 in 1948 and passed the child labour (prohibition and regulation) act in 1986. banning 17 industries considered hazardous from employing children above 14.

But the laws are rarely implemented by the state governments responsible for .them.

"These laws are respected more in the breach than in the observance." said Kailash Sat-yarthi. Head of the South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude.