Stating that the State Labour Department was conducting a special drive ‘Operation Smile’ along with the Police department to rescue and rehabilitate child labour in the State as per the provisions of Child Labour (P&R) Amendment Act, 2016, Minister for Home and Labour and Employment Nayini Narsimha Reddy said the children working in hazardous and dangerous occupations were being rescued and admitted to government hostels and National Child Labour Project Training Centers.
Replying to the questions raised by the TRS members Vemula Veeresham and Dasyam Vinay Bhasker on the steps taken by the government on eradication of child labour in the State in the Assembly on Tuesday during Question Hour, Nayini said the Labour Department was conducting workshops on eradication of child labour. District Project Societies have been registered under National Child Labour Project Scheme in all the newly created districts with a view to provide education and skill development to child labour, the minister said.
The minister said the Department has been conducting special drives and launching prosecutions against erring managements on the violations detected under Section 3 of Child Labour (P&R) Amendment Act, 2016 and also under Section 20 of Shops & Establishment Act, 1988. The ‘Operation Smile’ was being conducted on regular intervals jointly by the Police and Labour Departments.
During the period from 2014 to 2016, the department made over 1,600 inspections and rescued 1,706 children and 1,085 erring managements were prosecuted after 1,085 violations were detected under Section 3 of Child Labour (P&R) Amendment Act, 2016 and also under Section 20 of Shops & Establishment Act, 1988. An amount of Rs 57,167 was imposed as fine on them. During the ‘Operation Smile’ 8,874 children were rescued and rehabilitated, he added. (NSS)