With barely fifteen days to go before India implements a complete ban on hiring children as domestic workers or in eateries, the government is fast putting its act together to make the prohibition a success.
NEW DELHI: With barely fifteen days to go before India implements a complete ban on hiring children as domestic workers or in eateries, the government is fast putting its act together to make the prohibition a success.
Come October 10, employment of children below 14 years of age as servants at home or in businesses including factories, shops, dhabas, restaurants, hotels, teashops, resorts and spas will be banned. Those caught violating the ban would be liable for prosecution and penal action under the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986.
In a unique way of seeking support from the corporate sector in this mission, the government wants business houses to direct their employees not to hire children as domestic workers. “If corporates ban their employees, it would be of great help,” said an official from the Labour and Employment Ministry (ML&E). Besides, the labour ministry has written to corporate houses and organisations like CII, FICCI, PHDCCI, ASSOCHAM etc for their active participation in sensitising people and publicity. And corporate houses are happy to oblige. “We will encourage our employees to comply with the law,” said the spokesperson of Samsung India Ltd.
Probably for the first time, the government is also planning to involve Resident Welfare Associations in a big way. Their help would be sought in reporting child labour in the households.
Meanwhile, zonal meetings and workshops in states have already begun. The state authorities are being briefed on how to go about the enforcement of the law and the rehabilitation of children. The social welfare, education, labour and rural development departments of states have been particularly involved in the process.
“The police and other enforcing agencies are being sensitised on raids and rehabilitation. We have an ongoing National Child Labour Project running in 250 districts across 21 states with the help of NGOs. There are shelter homes where the rescued children are taken. Besides education, mid-day meal and health coverage, a stipend of Rs100 is also provided to them,” said Shahid Meezan, director, child labour division in the labour ministry.
However, concern still remains on the tutoring of children who often lie about their age during raids to escape. “Medical authorities have been told to help in certifying the correct age in such cases,” another official from the labour ministry added.
Advertisement campaigns are ready to be aired from next week. Due to a constraint of budget, the labour ministry has been unable to rope in film-stars or cricketers for the campaign but is hopeful that concerned citizens would join in. “We expect them (film-stars and cricketers) to come forward on their own and help us in sensitising the people in banning child labour,” said Meezan.
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