Ban on child labour imposed

Visakhapatnam, Oct 10 (UNI) With the ban on employment of children as domestic servants taking effect from today, the harsh reality of utilisation of children for decades in the country would gradually come to an end, Deputy Labour Commissioner M N Varhala Reddy said.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said victimisation and exploitation of children was an abuse of human rights.

Explaining about the ban imposed under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986, prohibiting child labour in dhabas, restaurants, resorts motels, teashops, spas and other recreational centres, he said under the Act, imprisonement up to one year or fine ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs.20,000, if anyone employ children below 14 years as domestic servants.

Similarly, officers of the central and state government deparment violating the Act would be dismissed from service or imprisonment for a year and penalised, he added.

He said sincere efforts were needed on all fronts to make the country, free of child labour and pave way for childlren to enjoy education.

The central government had directed the state government to provide education to the children released from workspots under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, he added.

UNI BSR ROY 1949