‘City a child labour destination, need an inter-state policy’
State’s child rights body writes to Maharashtra and other state governments pushing for anti-trafficking policy
Stating that Mumbai has become a destination as well as a transit place for various kinds of child labour and trafficking by organised gangs, the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has sought inter-state coordination and creation of an inter-state anti-trafficking and anti-child labour policy in a letter to the Maharashtra and other state governments.
The aim, said MSCPCR secretary A N Tripathi, is to protect the rights of children.
“Mumbai is a destination as well as transit place for various types of child labour, including child trafficking. Children from across the country, mainly from Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, North-Eastern states and Nepal are being trafficked by well-networked organised gangs. Besides Mumbai, Hyderabad and Jaipur are also emerging as destination and transit places. Being an inter-state and cross-country matter, it is difficult to curb child trafficking unless the matter is taken up by the state governments and the Central government. Therefore, inter-state coordination and cooperation is needed in this regard. This matter should be taken up at the national level and necessary instructions may be issued. Even though the Constitution prohibits employment of children below 14 years, but in view of socio-economic reality, it still continues,” said the commission’s letter, which has also been sent to secretary, Labour and Employment, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Significantly, the commission, in its letter to the Maharashtra state government, has asked them to invoke strict sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act on employers, middlemen and parents who encourage child labour, so that it can act as a deterrent. The letter says it is necessary to apply sections 317 (exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years by parent or person having care of it) and 374 (unlawful compulsory labour) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), both including jail term or fine or both.
The commission’s letter further says that sections 370 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the IPC, which looks at the issue of trafficking and 370A (1, 2) of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, which stipulates quantum of punishment, should also be applied. It recommends to the state to issue a Government Resolution (GR) stating the same.
Counselling parents, taking the help of religious and social leaders of panchayat institutions, NGOs and civil society against trafficking and child labour are other recommendations made by MSCPCR.
According to the 2001 Census data, there were 7,64,075 working children in Maharashtra and 1,26,66,377 across India, in the age group of 5-14 years.
Maharashtra occupied the eighth position among 35 states in terms of number of child labourers.
mihika.basu@expressindia.com
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