Dy Commissioner Dr. Ramegowda has called upon officials to expedite the process of booking cases against the owners of business establishments, industries and farm owners employing children below the age of 14 years, as per the Anti-Child Labour Act of 1986 and strive towards sending the children back to school.

Delivering the presidential address at a meeting to review progress of Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act in Mysore district recently, he directed the officials to identify children between the ages of 9 to 14 years who are employed in hazardous industries or in non-hazardous jobs like in hotels, restaurants, farms, dhabas, etc. and take action against the employers.

Officials of all the departments concerned, mainly the Police, Revenue, Women & Child Welfare, Industries, Social Welfare, Urban Development, Backward Classes & Minorities, Education, Sericulture, etc. from the village to the district level, must make more progress in this regard, he said. As per 2011-12 census, a total of 1,335 child- labourers were identified, including 1,147 in non-hazardous jobs and the rest in hazardous jobs. Of them, 938 were boys and 397 girls. There are five child labour rehabilitation centres in the district, of which three are funded by the Centre and two by the State.

“A total of 433 children have been admitted to these rehab centres. A sum of Rs. 61 lakh has been spent on them from 2009-10 and 2012-13. Besides, under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, a sum of Rs. 17.26 lakh has been spent of them too,” he said. Additional DC Naga Naik, AC Basavaraj, National Child Labour Progamme Planning Director Mallikarjun and Labour Officer Zaheer Pasha were present.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore