TN Govt to rehabilitate employed children

Chennai, Oct 9 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Government has drafted an action plan to create awareness, identify, rescue and rehabilitate children employed in domestic and hospitality sector.

An official release said today that the State Government had responded immediately to implement the Union Labour Ministry's notification, prohibiting employment of children as domestic servants or servants in roadside eateries, restaurants, hotels, motels, teashops, resorts, spas or in other recreational centres.

The Government also appealed to the public not to engage children below 14 years in houses for domestic employment. Penal action in accordance to the provisions of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, would be initiated against those who employed children in domestic employment or in hospitality sector, it said.

The legislation provides for a fine amount up to Rs 20,000 or imprisonment up to one year or with both on the erring employer.

Rescued children would be admitted in special schools run by National Child Labour Projects and in Alternative Innovative Education Centres and Education Guarantee Schemes. If the children needed institutional care, steps would be taken to admit them in hostels run by Adi Dravida Welfare Department, backward class welfare department and social welfare and hostels run by NGOs, the release said.

It said instructions had been issued to all District Collectors to launch campaign and draw an action plan at district level to implement the notification of the Centre. A separate action plan for Chennai Corporation was being prepared, it said and added that a state level and district level campaign had been launched to create awareness on the issue of child labour in domestic and hospitality sector.

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