The Childline unit here highlighted the issue of children of migrant families being used in work by agents in Puducherry, while observing the World Day against Child Labour on Friday. The organisation has intervened in four cases of child labour in 2014-2015, and have been able to place the children back in school, it said.
“Children from Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other states are brought to Puducherry by agents or relatives of those working here. It becomes difficult to establish the link between the children and the agents once they start working. There are also challenges in restoring children from other States to their parents because of language barriers. The children do not know their addresses correctly,” said Ravi S., coordinator Childline Puducherry. A child rescued by Childline was working in a hospital canteen and was brought by his relative who runs the canteen, said Mr. Ravi. Children have been found selling snacks and toys. In some cases, the Childline team has observed that some children return to working even after being restored to their families.
Observing that the Puducherry railway station is the point of arrival for these child labourers travelling on long distance trains, Childline Puducherry has requested the Railway authorities for permission to set up a permanent place at the railway station.
“If we have a team in the railway station, then we can immediately intervene if we suspect children are being brought for work, and provide necessary support,” said Mr. Ravi.
Child rights activists and organisations have decried the proposal to amend the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, where occupation in family enterprises will be exempt from the ban (on condition that such work does not interfere with their education) on employment of children below 14 years in all occupations.
Childline called for steps to ensure a complete eradication of child labour through law. Every child out of school is a case of child labour, said the organisation.
It called for severe punishment for those employing children, and ensuring the free and compulsory education of children below 18 years as means to curb incidence of child labour.
A two-wheeler rally comprising of Childline staff and volunteers holding placards with messages to increase awareness against was flagged off on Friday at the Beach Road by Child Welfare Committee Chairperson Vidyaa Ramkumar.
