MLAs in a confessional mood

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 13. Members of the Assembly did some hard introspection on Tuesday and found that several of them were engaging children for domestic chores in violation of the law prohibiting child labour.

Heeding to their sentiments, the Minister for School Education, Mr. Kadiam Srihari, issued an appeal to all MLAs, MPs, political leaders, IAS and IPS officers besides senior bureaucrats to suitably rehabilitate child labour, if any, engaged by them in their houses.

The Minister concurred with members that there were many politicians and Government officials who shouted from the rooftops about putting an end to the practice of child labour and yet employed children in their residences.

They also expressed concern over the dubious distinction of Andhra Pradesh in having the highest number of child labour in India. According to the 1991 census, the figure stood at 16 lakhs.

Latest statistics of child labour are not available though a National Sample Survey shows that 35 lakh children are not attending school. The proportion of child labour among them is not known.

An interesting aside is the transfer of the subject of child labour from the Department of Labour to School Education ordered by the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, about a fortnight ago because it was felt compulsory primary education was the answer to elimination of child labour.

Mr. Srihari, who was replying to a notice under Rule 304 tabled by Mr. Kagitha Venkata Rao (TDP) and others, said the Government's policy was based on the concept that `the right place for every child is the school'. It would make all possible efforts to put all children in schools in a phased manner by 2005 in order to achieve universalisation of elementary education.

The Minister announced that he would soon organise a State-level workshop on child labour and invite non-governmental organisations, representatives of political parties and UNICEF to participate. The workshop's recommendations would be used for preparing an approach paper which, in turn, would form the basis of a comprehensive action plan to eradicate child labour.

Earlier, Mr. Venkata Rao said there were child labourers working in almost every house, including those of MLAs. Mrs. G. Kuthuhalamma (Congress) and others suggested a time-bound programme for putting out-of-school children in hostels and giving monetary assistance to their parents.

Nearly a dozen members took part in the debate. They include Mr. N. Indrasena Reddy (BJP), Mr. N. Narasimhaiah, Mr. S. Rajaiah (CPI-M), Mr. E. Dayakar Rao, Mr. Gadde Babu Rao, Dr. G. Uma, P. Ramulu, P. Raghunadha Reddy (all TDP), Mr. Venkateswara Rao, Mr. Marappa and Mr. S. Raghuveera Reddy (Congress).

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