741 child labourers to be enrolled in schools

The Department of Labour has identified 741 child labourers in East Godavari district and is making arrangements to enrol them in schools, according to Deputy Commissioner of Labour Y. Krishna Reddy.

Addressing a review meeting on child labour at the Collectorate here, Mr. Reddy said a district-level resource committee had been formed with 20 officials to ensure rehabilitation to child labourers. The District Collector is the chairman of the committee. He said it was an offence to engage children in the age group of 6-14 years, and that employers would be booked, besides levying fine on them. He said in the last three years, the department had rescued more than 3,500 children, registered 220 cases and levied a fine of Rs. 16,400 .