While Vilasrao Deshmukh stresses on the abolition of child labour, a contractor appointed by the MMRDA, has employed minors for monsoon related work and development.
Agency headed by the chief minister pleads ignorance, state starts investigation into the matter
While Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh stresses on the abolition of child labour, a contractor appointed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Road Development Authority (MMRDA), an agency he heads, has employed minors for monsoon related work and development of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road.
On Monday, this reporter was appalled to find two 13-year-olds, Subhash Kale and Motilal Gurav (names changed), cleansing silt that had spilled onto the road while it rained. The two had been employed by Mahavir Constructions, a contractor appointed by the MMRDA for the road’s widening and beautification. The children wore no rain-gear and were getting soaked while clearing the muck that was used by the contractor as manure for tree plantations on the road’s divider.
The minors, both residents of a slum in Goregaon, said they had been working for the contractor for the last five days and received Rs100 as daily wages for their work. Labour contract conditions prevent a contractor from employing children. They also advocate a daily wage of at least Rs127 and the provision of protective gear (in this case rainwear) to the labourer.
An innocent Kale said there were more young boys employed by the contractor. He disclosed that they were even assigned demanding tasks like cleaning a drain running parallel to the road. Workers at the site suggested that the minors were recruited as a cost-cutting exercise.
“While adults are paid Rs200 for a day’s work, the labour contractor gets the same work done by children in half that amount,” said a labourer. Labour contractor for the site, K Mani admitted to recruiting “some” minors for the work. Apologising about their recruitment, he said, “Such a thing would never happen again. The children’s parents had approached me to employ them.” Shirking responsibility, site in-charge SK Singh said, “The labour contractor kept us in the dark about the employment of children. We will act against him.”
Assuring action against Mahavir Constructions, Joint Metropolitan Commissioner Milind Mhaiskar said, “If the contractor has employed any minors on the project, immediate action shall be taken. The problem with such employees is that the contractor hires them on a day-to-day basis and so the project executing agency would, under normal circumstances, not have data of the employees working at a site on a particular day. We will take necessary corrective steps.”
Dr Vijay Satbir Singh, prinicipal secretary, Women and Child Welfare, said, “We will examine the case on priority basis.” His department will enquire on the exact number of children employed by the contractor and the extent of their exploitation before declaring suitable punishment.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}