New Delhi, Oct 21 : Minister of Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes has informed the Lok Sabha that Uttar Pradesh tops in child labour prevention followed by Rajasthan and Bihar as the maximum number of children in the age group of 5-14 year were rescued and rehabilitated.

During the year 2007-08, Fernandes said 71,479 children were withdrawn from work and enrolled in special schools under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh was followed by Rajasthan and Bihar where 39,601 and 34,650 children were withdrawn from work and enrolled in special schools.

The Labour ministry stated that they do not have latest figures of the child labour population date wise as the Census releases figures once every ten years.

However, according to the 2001 census the population of child labourers was maximum in Uttar Pradesh where 19,27,997 children were working and had no access to education.

Uttar Pradesh''s figure was followed by Andhra Pradesh where 13,63,339 children were working.

Moreover, the 2001 census stated that a total of 1.27 crore children in the 5-14 years age group were working for survival. (ANI)