Karnataka Aims to Become `Child Labour Free State’ by 2011-12
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jul 23: Karnataka aims to become ``child labour free state’’ by 2011-12, state labour minister B N Bacche Gowda informed the state legislative assembly on Thursday, July 23.
The state government has prepared a detailed action plan for elimination of child labour practice by 2011-12 and released Rs 18.91 crore during the last nine years (2001-02 to 2009-10) for implementing various programmes for elimination of child labour, the minister said.
Answering questions from members during the question hour in the house, the minister said the Centre had also extended the project on elimination of child labour for the 11th Five Year Plan period
The officials will be devoting one week in a month for conducting raids on hotels, garages, factories, construction sites and other hazardous industries.
As soon as a child labour is identified, the child is released from work and rehabilitated in mainstream schools or child labour special schools. Legal action is also initiated against the erring employers. If the child was found working in hazardous occupation, action to be taken to collect a penalty of Rs 20,000 per child as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
Child labourers are rehabilitated either in mainstream school or special child labour schools where they are given one or two-year bridge course. During the stay in Special Child Labour School, children were provided with free food, hostel, uniform, health facility and education.
Of the 387 schools sanctioned, 294 have been functioning in 15 districts, he added.