HYDERABAD: Having busted an organised racket involving the supply of children as domestic helps to influential families in Vijayawada, Hyderabad and Bangalore, the Krishna district administration has decided to ensure that all the middlemen and employers of the children are punished under the provision of the Bonded Labour Act.

"So far 18 middlemen from Mantada village in Nimmakur mandal of Krishna district and 22 employers have been booked under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976," according to Krishna Collector Navin Mittal.

Trial on

The Collector, who was here to attend a two-day workshop on Elimination of Bonded Labour System in Hyderabad told The Hindu on Tuesday that the summary trial of the erring persons was on in the Bonded Labour Court headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Gudivada.

Mr. Mittal said for the first time this act was being used against middlemen and the employers, who had made children work as domestic helps. "If convicted, those responsible for violating the act can be imprisoned for three years," he added.

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