HYDERABAD: Reacting swiftly on a complaint that a child was working as a domestic help, the district administration's Child Labour Helpline team rescued 11-year-old Sarada who was working at the residence of a Child Development Project Officer (CPDO) near Clock Tower in Secunderabad.

The Government official, Suguna Anasuya, working as the CDPO at Malakpet under the Women and Child Welfare Department, was immediately placed under suspension while an Anganwadi worker, Narmada, who arranged the child for the official, was dismissed from service, as she was not a permanent employee.

Tip-off

According to District Collector Arvind Kumar, an anonymous caller had tipped off officials that Ms. Suguna had employed a minor girl at her residence. The Child Labour Project Director, along with his field officers, Secunderabad MRO and Labour Department officials immediately inspected her residence and found Sarada working there.

"The child was engaged for a sum of Rs.8,000 per year and thereby comes under the definition of bonded labour. She is a native of Mallepally village near Devarakonda in Nalgonda district and belongs to the ST community," Mr. Kumar said.

Sarada has been lodged in the Girls' Residential Bridge Course, Saidabad, and is under the guardianship of the district administration while a case under the Bonded Labour Act was registered at the Secunderabad Market police station against Ms. Suguna.

"It is a sad case where the so-called custodians of children are themselves are indulging in exploitation of children. We are sending a detailed report to the Government on the conduct of the child development project officer, Suguna Anasuya, so that stricter action can be initiated in addition to her suspension and the police case," the Collector said.

It was hardly four days ago that the district administration, keeping in view the increasing instances of children aged six to 14 being kept as bonded labourers in apartments and individual bungalows, requested the public to come forward and disclose such cases around their neighbourhood.

The information could be given confidentially, either in writing addressed to the District Collector or to the Project Director, National Child Labour Project, Hyderabad or to the Additional Project Coordinator, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan or over phone numbers 23204123 and 24650326.

Children thus rescued would be accommodated in residential bridge courses that include education and hostel facilities while simultaneous action would be initiated against the employers of such children.

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