Child Workers Suvey
Survey of child workers in the district will be completed by the end of this month, according to an official of the Kovai Child Labour Abolition and Support Society. The official said the block development officers, noon meal staff and NSS volunteers of Bharathiar University were involved in the survey. They would cover commercial establishments, households and eateries.The district had 12 special centres last year to rehabilitate child workers rescued during raids. They would be helped to join the regular schools this year. Based on the survey, more special centres would be opened in the district if needed, he said. Efforts are also on to open residential schools for these children. A release from the district administration said that anti-child labour day was observed on June 12. Awareness programmes were held in different parts of the city.
A signature campaign was organised in the city. Joint Commissioner for Labour, R. Thangavelu and Deputy Commissioner for Labour, P. Marimuthu, participated in the programmes. Over 160 cases had been registered in the district on those employing child workers. Three cases have been registered against employment of domestic help and Rs. 20,000 collected as penalty. The District Collector, V. Palanikumar, warned against employment of children, aged below 14. Those employing children could be punished with three months to one year imprisonment.
