School principals can check child labour in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Mar 7 (UNI) To check child labour in the Union Territory, the Chandigarh Administration has decided to assign the power of labour inspectors to the school principals and headmasters of government schools.

Union Territory Home and Labour Secretary Krishna Mohan said here today the step had been taken to tackle child labour effectively.

He said the labour deportment of the Administration did not had the sufficient staff to check child labour, so the principals and headmasters had been assigned to check this menace.

A notification to this effect has also been issued.

Mr Krishna Mohan said, ''947 children between age group of 6-14 years have been found to be engaged in different activities in Chandigarh and these children are covered under Child Labour Act 1986. He said it has been found that these children are not attending schools because of financial constrain and are also being exploited.

The Home Secretary said Sarv Siksha Abhiyan along with the Education Deportment was giving all kind of help to the children between the age group of 6-14 years. The assistance included free-books, uniform, mid-day meal and incentives of Rs 250 per month per child.

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