Concern as Lopchu child labour ‘thrives’ Darjeeling, 12 June: To make effective laws formulated by the central government to curb child labour in the country, the Darjeeling district magistrate had earlier issued a notice to this effect, while, acting on the notice, the district administration and NGOs in Darjeeling have issued a warning to those still flouting the laws. Darjeeling is on the verge of becoming the most vulnerable district in the state in terms of child labour, experts have said. The plight of children in this part of the world was evident today when it was revealed that in Lopchu, around 20 km away from Darjeeling, some hoteliers and restaurant owners have been pressing children of school-going age into hard labour. Officials of Baal Suraksha Abhiyaan claimed that despite requests and warnings to the restaurant owners there, there has been no end to the child labour. Earlier, they said they were ignorant of the laws, while some maintained that they would stop such a practice, an official of Baal Suraksha Abhiyaan said today. According to him, around 30 to 50 children below 14-18 years of age are working in slave-like conditions in the Lopchu area. Marking World Day Against Child Labour today, the organization, along with other child rights activists, took out a rally there in protest against such a crime. This is a message to them and also a warning to those hoteliers and restaurant owners that are using child labour. Still, if they continue acting innocent, we will take up the matter legally, the official said. The notice issued by the district magistrate earlier this year is one that came from the central government on the revision of the 1986 act. Article 3 of the revised act states that making children below 14 years of age work is strictly prohibited and those violating the act can be sentenced to three months to one year in jail, or will have to pay a fine of Rs 20,000 per child, or both. Meanwhile, World Vision India, along with Edith Wilkins and school students, organized a child rights awareness programme in Darjeeling today. The programme, based on the international theme of Extend protection, combat child labour, saw a rally where students performed an open air programme at Chowrasta, while they also pasted stickers in hotels and restaurants that said Child labour free hotel/shop. sns
Posted on: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 08:03:13 +0000
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