Child labourer dies in Ludhiana

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 21

A 14-year-old boy, who had developed an infection in his right foot after being injured in a factory unit at Focal Point Phase- IV, died last evening.

The death of the boy, identified as Munish, triggered a massive protest here this afternoon outside Lucky Forging, the place where the boy used to work.

The labour union placed the body in front of the factory unit and refused to lift the body till the police registered a case.

But the police, instead of registering a case against the factory owner, initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC.

Harbhajan Singh, owner of the factory unit, said that the boy had not turned up for work for the past 10 days. He claimed that he had learnt from factory employees that Munish had come to the factory in the morning yesterday and asked for money from the security guard.

He maintained that he came to know about Munish’s death only when the labour union protested outside his factory.

The protesting union leaders said that Munish’s toe was cut a few days ago while he was working on a machine at the factory. They alleged that despite suffering a serious injury, he was not given any treatment.

When Munish, a native of Bihar who stayed in the migrant quarters near Sherpur Chowk, went to the doctor by himself, he was told by the doctor that he had developed septicaemia. The doctor advised him to take admission in the hospital immediately.

The protesters alleged that boy yesterday visited the factory and requested manager Chunni Lal and labour contractor Manoj to lend him some money, but the poor boy was shown the door.

While returning home, he collapsed at Sherpur market due to fever and died on the spot. Munish’s parents have been informed about his death. The last rites will be performed after the arrival of Munish’s parents.

Proposed dilution in law 

• The Bill to amend the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act was recently approved by the Union Cabinet
• It has relaxed the penal provisions for parents or guardians, who were earlier subjected to same punishments as applicable to the employer of the child
• It provides that there would be no punishment for parents or guardians in case of the first offence while a maximum penalty of Rs 10,000 can be levied in case of the second and subsequent offences