Despite the government implementing several Acts to protect the rights of children, it is shocking to note that a government organisation itself is allegedly involved in violating the rules and regulations by employing children in laborious works.

It has come to light of late that the KSRTC Rural Division-2 at Bannimantap in city, which is spending more than Rs. 50,000 per month for cleaning and maintenance of their buses, has reportedly employed children for the job, which is illegal.

Officials of the District Child Protection Unit and the Special Juvenile Police Unit who conducted a raid on the KSRTC unit yesterday evening, rescued three boys who were involved in cleaning works. They were acting on a tip-off given through a telephone call to the Children’s Helpline a day ago.

The rescued juveniles are Abhijit, 17, son of Nagesh, a resident of Karyahalli village in Tiptur taluk, Kiran, 17, son of Nagaiah, resident of Bellur Cross in Beechanahalli village and Prasad, 15, son of Manju, also from Bellur Cross.

Depot Manager Marigowda had given the contract for cleaning more than 80 buses that come to the Depot every day to one contractor named Sudhakar of Tumkur. Sudhakar had brought six boys from his own village and had provided them lodging facility in a room in the Depot itself. He had deputed the minor boys for cleaning the buses on lesser wages.

A resident of the locality is said to have tipped off about three child labourers working since the past one month to the Children’s Helpline. The officials of the District Child Protection Unit and the Special Juvenile Police Unit who watched the boys working since morning, raided the Depot in the evening.

Children’s Protection Officer Ravikumar, on charges of the violation of Juvenile Justice Act – 2000 for employing children aged below 18 years, rescued the three boys who will be produced before the Children’s Welfare Committee meeting to be held on July 23.

Depot Manager Marigowda, contractor Sudhakar and the children’s parents will be summoned to the meeting.

Labour Inspectors Hemalatha, Vasanth Kumar, Puttachar and other officials participated in the raid.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore