Dist to observe Child Labour Abolition Week

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 13

The district administration will observe Child Labour Abolition Week from November 16 to 22 this year under which officials would conduct checking at various government and private departments to curb child labour.

Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Basant Garg said following the Punjab State Action Plan for Total Abolition of Child Labour, premises of hazardous industries and non-hazardous industries would be checked. Teams comprising representatives from labour, police, social security and child welfare, school education, health and local bodies departments would conduct these surprise raids and recover child labourers (if any) and rehabilitate them. They would also take action against the accused persons.

The teams will conduct checking under the SDMs.

He said the interests of labours would be safeguarded in the district irrespective of the work they were involved in.

The accused would be fined with Rs 10,000 penalty, two years imprisonment or both and also Rs 20,000 for each child labourer recovered. The amount would be deposited in the District Child Labor Welfare and Rehabilitation Funds. This time, people employing children below 14 years of age as domestic help will also face the music. Assistant Labour Commissioner Gurbant Singh Brar said as per the Child Labour (Prevention and Control) Act, 1986, Section 3; Punjab Factories Act, 1948; Section 67; and Punjab Shops and Business Establishments Act, 1958; Section 29, there is a complete ban on employing children below 14 years of age as helpers.

If anyone is found forcing people into bonded labour, strict action would be taken against them under the Bonded Labour Prevention Act, 1976. He said under this Act, the guilty would be sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment with a fine up to Rs 2,000.

He also appealed to the people to inform respective SDMs if they come across any case of bonded labour so that the victim could be released and rehabilitated. The child helpline has been set up in the office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Bathinda, at 0164-2211287. Complaints regarding child labour will also be received at this number.