New Delhi, July 16: Concerned over the growing incidence of child labour in the country, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has directed state governments and various export promotion councils to set up self regulatory mechanism to check child labour from supply to export stage. India has the highest number of child labour, with reports estimating more than 200 million children working in different sectors, including more than 120 million engaged in hazardous work. In her letter, NCPCR chairman Shantha Sinha said that the commission has come across incidence of children working in export units or "in sectors where investments are made from countries abroad". An international apparel and fashion chain, which was outsourcing its products from India, was in the news recently for the use of children by its suppliers in India for making products. In her letter to the ministries of commerce and textiles, Ms Sinha mentioned that many children are recruited as bonded labour in these units and are made to work in sub-human conditions as they are considered cheap labour. Taking cognisance of reports of children being trafficked and employed in Bt cotton fields, zari and embroidery units and other industries, the commission has asked these ministries to conduct social audits at all stages of production of goods to export. Besides these ministries, directives have also been sent to chief secretaries of all states.