Steps will be Itaken to end child labour in UT: Rangasamy

Puducherry, Apr 18 (UNI) The Puducherry administration is taking steps to put an end to child labour in the Union Territory, Chief Minister N Rangasamy told the legislative assembly today.

Intervening Labour Minister E Valsaraj, while replying to a question in this regard, the Chief Minister said steps would be taken to create awareness on the parents of the children on the issue.

Earlier, Mr Valsaraj said steps were being taken to prevent child labour here under the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act 1986.

The government had conducted a survey in 2002, in which it was found that ten children were working in hazardous industries and 27 others in non-hazardous industries. Ten cases were registered and the industries were directed to send the children to the labour welfare and protection centre functioning in the labour department and not to engage any child labourers, he added.

Members cutting across party lines said the survey taken was incorrect and a fresh survey to cover hotels and bars instead of industries alone should be taken up.

As the government had not carried out any survey after 2002, it was decided to conduct surveys in every five years, and accordingly a fresh survey would be taken up during 2007-08, Mr Valsaraj said adding street dramas and awareness campaigns here were also proposed.

UNI