Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Nov 21: In a swift operation, the labour department has swung into action to curb child labour by rescuing at least eight juveniles in two days from Srinagar parts.
An official from the labour department said that the child rescue drive was planned by the department in Lal Chowk and adjacent areas of Srinagar in order to check for child labour in Srinagar City and to inform the people about child labour.
Assistant Labour Commissioner Srinagar, Arshid Qadir said that a team of labour department officials raided various shops in Lal Chowk in the past two days and found the two juveniles working at Shakti Sweet Shop Srinagar. “The officials immediately rescued the juveniles and asked the shop owner to submit age proof within two days, failing which they would face legal consequences,” he said.
Qadir said that a total of eight children have been rescued since yesterday (Monday).
About age proof of child labours, Qadir said that as per the honourable Supreme Court, an Aadhar Card is not a valid age proof and that a school certificate or a medical report will be considered as valid age proof.
“The child labour needs to be properly checked whether the individual is working with family on his own, or with someone else. The drive will continue till December,” Qadir said, adding that they are focusing on the drive in concentrated areas. He sought people’s cooperation in curbing the child labour menace in Srinagar.
Asked about beggars in Srinagar, Qadir said that they first have to investigate the matter. “There is a need for ar full-fledged team from the Labour department and anti-trafficking unit to nail the child begging nexus. We are working on a plan to check the child-begin menace also,” he said.
