Kochi: Child Labour is still prevalent on a major scale in the timber industries based in Perumbavur among others, interactive sessions held at migrant labour camps under an initiative of the National Action and Co-ordination Group for Ending Violence Against Children (NACG) has found. A delegation of child rights activists including Child Line volunteers, social workers and NACG officials held day-long interactive sessions at migrant labour camps in Vathuruthy and Perumbavur on July 16 and 21.
“We have focused on interacting with children at such migrant labour camps. We also spoke to their parents, and potential employers like saw mill owners and hotel and restaurant owners among others. From all this, we realized ‘hidden’ child labour persists on a major scale at Perumbavur, especially in saw mills,” said Dr Mary Venus Joseph, Dean, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences and the NACG Kerala state member.
As a solution to the issue, a one-day state level consultation with key stakeholders, such as the Kerala State Commission for protection of Child rights, regional labour joint commissioner and the district panchayat president besides officials from the Labour department, will be held at the Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kalamassery, on Saturday. The meet will discuss among others the recent amendments to the Child Labour Protection Bill that restrict employment of children below 14 years of age and about launching a campaign for raising the age.
“Though banned, Child Labour still exists in places like Perumbavur. Also a lot of cases came to us when such rescued children revealed their ordeal while being employed as domestic servants in houses. Efforts should be made to provide them education and sufficient revenue sources for their family to eliminate the menace,” said Padmaja Nair, district chairperson, Child Welfare Committee. Joy P J, Regional Joint labour commissioner, said the department would take action when such instances come to their notice. “We are aware of the hidden child labour issue. Action is being taken,” he said.
