Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (GA)

Mangalore, Sep 5:  With an aim of abolishing child labour completely from the society, the union government has amended the existing child labour act which will come into effect from October 10.

In the amended act, more importance is given towards domestic servants and their welfare.  As per the Act, any house owner who employs a child who is below 14 years of age would be punished severely.  Employing children below 14 years of age for domestic service, in entertainment industry has strictly been prohibited in the Act.

The government has asked the concerned persons and associations to form adequate rules and regulations to implement the Act in its fullness.  Labour department general secretary K M Sahni has issued a notice to concerned departments in this regard.

As known, lacs of children work as domestic servants in the country.  Being an unorganized labour sector, a lot of children go out of the mainstream society and are lost over the years.   Though a few cases come to the fore, more cases remain hidden owing to several reasons.  The families which are facing financial constraints usually prefer to send their children for work than schooling.  However, if the present Act is implemented in its entirety, it could be hoped that more and more children will at least get the basic education.