The UNICEF has chalked out plans to ensure child workers are not employed on the cotton fields in rural parts of the district, especially between October and December.
A survey by the organisation revealed that 463 children were engaged on the fields in Salem district in 2011 and 546 in 2012. Though statistics were not available for 2013, officials said 22 children were rescued from the fields at Thalaivasal and Pethanaickenpalayam blocks. More than 100 children were sent home by farmers themselves fearing action.
Children are employed mainly for cross pollination work. Since they have nimble and small fingers and have the ability to work continuously for two months they are preferred.
The children are mainly from Javadu Hills in Tiruvannamalai, Kolli Hills in Namakkal, Kalvarayan Hills in Salem and Vellimalai in Villupuram districts and their parents are given advance money in June.
Depending on the availability of child workers, farmers sow the seeds so that pollination starts from October.
P. Balamurugan, Child Protection Consultant of UNICEF, told The Hindu that sensitising the public to the ill-effects of child labour, and child protection laws was essential.
He said dissemination of message against child labour would be carried out using tom-toms in villages. Awareness programmes would be held for workers of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
