Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil warned that all those who employed child labour across sectors would be booked under appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act that would result in up to 10 years of imprisonment.
He was addressing presspersons at Science Centre in University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur on Wednesday, at a workshop on the role of Panchayat-level Child Protection Committee in eradicating child labour.
“The district administration is determined to uproot the child labour system by employing strict legal measures,” he said.
He pointed out that the futures of many children were being ruined as they were forced to work in agricultural fields, particularly for three months during cotton harvesting season. “We have formed special squads to keep a vigil on the traffickers across the district. We have successfully raided and seized 224 vehicles that were used for transporting children and imposed a fine of Rs. 14 lakh.
In Deodurg taluk alone, nine cases were filed and five people have been arrested recently. We will impose Rs. 1 lakh fine on landowners, if children are found working in his/her land,” he said.
The officer informed that 245 supervisors, 25 nodal officers and 180 volunteers had been designated for monitoring child labour-related issues across the district.
He added that around 80 per cent of the 4,256 child labourers rescued were admitted to schools.
“We are providing training to Panchayat Development Officers to address the issue at the grassroots level,” Mr. Senthil added.
