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Haryana lauded for efforts to eradicate child labour

CHANDIGARH: National Human Rights Commission member Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao on Monday commended the Haryana Government’s concern for eradication of child labour and its endeavour to provide employment opportunities to families whose children are engaged as labour. Mr. Justice Bhaskar Rao was addressing a sensitisation workshop on bonded labour and child labour organised by the National Human Rights Commission in collaboration with the Haryana Labour Department here. It was attended by all District Magistrates, Divisional Commissioners, Director-General Police, Administrative Secretaries and heads of departments.

Pointing out that “human dignity is the spine of human rights”, Mr. Justice Bhaskar Rao said “unless bonded labour is eliminated, human dignity cannot be ensured”. He said the District Magistrates have a fundamental role to play in implementation of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act as they have statutory obligations and judicial powers, whether it is the matter of identification, release or rehabilitation of bonded labour. He urged the District Magistrates to utilise their experience, knowledge and authority and take all possible action to root out the menace of bonded labour system.

Reiterating the State Government’s resolve to eradicate the social evils of bonded labour and child labour, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that as the contractors recruiting the inter-State migrant workers did not obtain licences in their home states, he had directed the concerned officers to ensure that proper registration certificates are issued to the employers in Haryana.

While stating that Haryana today was humming with activity, Mr. Hooda reiterated that the State was deficit in labour. Therefore migrant labour was attracted to the industrial sector, especially in brick-kilns and mines. The State Government was aware that the migrant workers were vulnerable and needed to be protected against exploitation.

The practice of taking huge advances by the labour in brick-kilns and mines was the major cause of their exploitation. A high rate of indebtedness in their home states was also a cause of their continuing economic backwardness.

Chief Secretary Dharam Vir said that there were about 2,400 brick kilns and a large number of mines in the State.

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Haryana lauded for efforts to eradicate child labour

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