UDUPI: District administration is taking strict measures to crackdown on child labour.
While the district reported two cases as of date, it wants to pare this down to zero for the rest of 2021. It has directed all departments to act in tandem to ensure that there are no new cases.
In addition, the administration has directed that in-charge of construction sites ensure labourers engaged in construction activities and their families are given all facilities.
Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesha who took stock of the situation said any person and or institution employing child labour will face a two-year prison term with a fine. Stakeholders in the district are mature enough to desist from such abhorrent practice; DC said.
It is the endeavour of the administration to shape Udupi as a child labour free district. The fine can range from Rs 20000 to Rs 50000 and a prison term from 6 months to 2-years.
Labourers who migrate to the district from other districts and states often send their children to carry out odd-jobs that will supplement the family income.
It is this practice that authorities concerned must crackdown on, identify and make them go to the nearest school so that they are brought under the umbrella of formal education set up. It is equally the responsibility of the society to ensure that there is no increment to the two cases reported, he said.
Children of labourers who come from outside the district are often seen sorting fish at the Malpe fisheries harbour. Authorities must not permit such developments and keep a check on this practise by carrying out surprise visits to the harbour.
They must bring such instances to the notice of their parents and put a stop to it, DC said. The aim should be to ensure that no child is seen working in any type of industry – even non-hazardous, he noted.
It is the bounden duty of the society to worry about the future of children and pave the way for them to be productive citizens of tomorrow, averred Prakash Chandra Shetty, government public prosecutor.
Children from economically and socially backward communities often tend to get pushed into child labour and due care should be taken to prevent this, Shetty said, adding constitutionally guaranteed rights of children must be implemented.
Child labour is a social stigma and affects children in a vulnerable age group physically, mentally, morally and even psychologically, pointed Cauvery, member secretary, Udupi District Legal Services Authority and senior civil judge.
Every member of society must redouble their efforts to prevent child labour at every stage. Ensuring that children are in schools is the best way to go about addressing this situation, Cauvery added.