Officials of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP), in association with the Labour Department, cracked the whip on employers, who engaged child labourers. The teams rescued 54 children employed in different establishments and as domestic help in homes.

Following the directions of Krishna District Collector A. Md. Imtiyaz, the special drive was conducted from June 13 to 19, at different places in the district.

“All the children were produced in the Open Court organised by Labour Department on Thursday. Assistant Commissioners of Labour, K. Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and Srimannarayana, conducted the proceedings, and the children were handed over to their parents and guardians for safe custody,” NCLP district Project Director (PD) D. Anjaneya Reddy said.

About 19 Labour Officers, NCLP field coordinator B. Prasanna, Childline coordinator A. Ramesh and other staff participated in the raids conducted at Gudivada, Kanchikacherla, Jaggaiahpet, Nandigama, Machilipatnam, Kankipadu, Vuyyuru, Pamarru and other places.

“All the employers, along with the rescued children and their parents, were summoned to the ‘Open Court.’ The court collected about ₹1.64 lakh as compensation (towards difference of minimum wages), besides imposing ₹90,000 fines on the establishment owners,” said Mr. Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy.

Official’s visit

Deputy Commissioner of Labour P.V.S. Subramanyam, who visited the Open Court, interacted with the parents and their wards. He explained about ‘Amma Vodi’ programme, being introduced by the government.

“Employers against whom cases were registered were directed to admit the children in government schools in their native place and submit the details with 15 days, failing which severe action would be initiated against them”, Mr. Subramanyam said.

The child workers were rescued from hotels, garages, industries, shops, houses, cloth stores and other establishments. The victims were all aged between 10 and 15 years, said Ms. Prasanna.

Counselling

The officials explained about Child and Adolescent (Prohibition and Regulation) Act. 1986, A.P. Shops and Establishments Act, 1988, Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and the implementation of Right to Education Act, 2009, and the consequences, if child labour was engaged violating the Acts.

“Of the total, 44 cases were disposed of in the Open Court. The NCLP staff and the NGO representatives provided counselling to the parents and asked them to provide education to their children”, Mr. Anjaneya Reddy said.