The Hindu : NHRC notice to magistrate on child labour

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 31, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

NHRC notice to magistrate on child labour

By Ramya Kannan

Chennai May 30. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the Nellore District Magistrate, to furnish information about children employed as bonded labour in sweetmeat factories in the district within four weeks.

Acting on a complaint from the National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS), New Delhi, the NHRC in a notice directed the magistrate to look into the "allegations contained in the complaint and submit comments within four weeks."

The notice, a copy of which has been forwarded to the Principal Secretary, Home, Andhra Pradesh, says that if the authority to which the directions had been issued defaulted, then the Commission "may proceed to take such action as it deems proper."

The deadline for the Magistrate expires just beyond mid-June. The notice was issued on May 19.

The complaint was forwarded by Vinod C.B. for the NCAS in February-end, quoting a report on freeing bonded labourers from Nellore sweetmeat units published in these columns on February 23.

Drawing the NHRC's attention to the violation of the fundamental rights of the children, Mr. Vinod pointed out that it was in violation of the provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

Citing the instance of four children, Satya (12), Anand (11), Prabhakaran (11) and John Peter (16), rescued from Nellore by a Tamil Nadu-based NGO, SOCO Trust, with the aid of the State Commissioner for Bonded Labour, the complaint said the children had been abused by their employers.

It pointed out that many children were still working in the sweetmeat shops in Nellore.

In recognition of this fact, NCAS urged the Commission to direct the State Governments to raid on the suspect units, rescue the bonded and ensure the immediate release of monetary compensation and rehabilitation of the rescued children.

It also sought action against the employers.

The petitioner sought a directive to the States that the vigilance committees at the district and State level, a requirement under the Bonded Labour Act, were constituted.

The States must make sure that the functions and responsibilities of the district and sub- divisional magistrates, as per the 1976 Act, were carried out.

In response to questions raised in Parliament, the number of cases of "alleged bondage and slavery" recorded by the NHRC in 21 States and Union Territories over the past three years were revealed.

Punjab seemed to be the worst offender, with the number of cases there growing by geometric proportions every year.

However, child rights activists have alleged out that the figures were well below the "actual ground realities" and demanded stringent action by the authorities to bring down the cases.

They have also called for the arrest of "touts" who "lured" children into industry.

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