Karnataka - Bangalore

Boy narrates harassment at the hands of employer

BANGALORE: “I was beaten black and blue on Sunday. I managed to escape and later walk three km and got admitted in hospital,” said 13-year-old Vijay Kumar, who was allegedly assaulted on Sunday by Lata Basavaraje Goud, a relative of Sindhanur MLA Venkata Rao Nadgoud.

Recalling his problems before the Child Welfare Committee members on Monday, Mr. Kumar said Ms. Lata beat him up several times in the past two months. A four-member CWC team led by its Chairperson Vasudeva Sharma met Kumar in the Government Boy’s Home in Madiwala.

Mr. Sharma said Kumar was being paid Rs. 5,000 a year. Kumar started to work in Lata’s house in Raichur and came to her house in Bangalore.

“This is a type of bonded labour. We will request the Raichur Deputy Commissioner to conduct an inquiry.” The CWC members recorded the statements of Kumar and his father Junja.

Meanwhile, the Sanjay Nagar police have registered a case against Lata and are searching for her.

They have booked Lata under Section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) of Indian Penal Code and under the provisions of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.

“But they have failed to register a case under Section 26 (Cruelties on Children) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act,” Mr. Sharma said. The officials of the Department of Labour also recorded the statements of Kumar and his father.

Prakash Iyappa, the fact-finding coordinator of the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM), has filed separate complaints against Lata before the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission and the Department of Labour.

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