HYDERABAD: Cracking the whip on those employing children as domestic help and helping hands in hotels, the Labour Department is launching a month-long awareness campaign beginning October 10 to give wide publicity to the ban imposed by the Centre.

The effort is to send out a loud and clear message that child labour is banned and any violations come with a heavy price now. It is also aimed at rooting out the misconception that employing children in homes meant giving them livelihood.

Following the ban imposed by the Central Government, children cannot be legally employed in homes, teashops, dhabas, restaurants and hotels from October 10. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 stipulates a prison term ranging from three months to two years, with or without a fine of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000.

Enforcement agencies will begin a crackdown on those employing children below the age of 14 years, particularly in apartments complexes and individual houses, and labour inspectors have been told to check households for violations. With two Deputy Commissioners, six Assistant Commissioners and an equal number of Labour officers besides 43 Assistant Labour officers at the helm of the drive, the department plans to fan out across the twin cities and neighbouring municipalities.

`No justification'

"There cannot be any justification or rationalisation in employing children in homes. It is a myth that they are doing a favour to the hapless children giving them food, clothing, shelter and sometimes education," suggests secretary trustee MV Foundation Shanta Sinha.

It is necessary for employers to show concern for their own well-being and voluntarily release the child than wait to be prosecuted under the Act. She said citizens must play a vital role in ensuring that no child was employed in the neighbourhood or among relatives and friends. Further, a coordinated effort between the Labour, Police, Revenue and Education Departments at local-level was imperative for rehabilitating the hapless children.

The Government must set up citizens' committees to act as watchdogs.

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