Collector's directive to Labour Department officials
Stern action will be initiated against organisations employing children below 14 years for work. Labour Department officials should visit factories and firms frequently to detect any such labourers, advised Collector N. Venkatachalam.
He was flagging off an anti-child labour rally here on Tuesday.
The district administration had been taking concerted efforts to contain child labour and bring drop-outs to school. Labour Department officials raided around 170 companies and factories in Nilaottai, Palani and Kodaikanal taluks recently and informed that no company had appointed child labour in their organisations.
During 2011-12, 40 child labourers were detected and admitted to bridge schools. Action had been initiated against two organisations that employed child labourers and a fine of Rs.20,000 was imposed on them.
The fine was deposited in the bank in the name of the two rescued children, he said.
Moreover, children engaged in domestic work were considered as child labourers. If the public found any such cases, they could contact the toll free telephone number 1098 and pass on the information for immediate action, said Mr. Venkatachalam and asked parents not to send their children to work in hotels, tea shops and mechanic shops.
They should be sent only to schools.
Hundreds of students participated in a rally and campaigned against child labour.
The rally began at Nehruji Memorial Boys Higher Secondary School near Rock Fort and reached Dudley Higher Secondary School near flower market after passing through prime roads in the town.
The participants insisted on sending children to school and not to work. They stressed the importance of education and eradication of child labour.