The Times of India: Bareilly: Wednesday,
November 28, 2018.
The labour department in Uttar Pradesh
has identified at least 4,183 child labourers across the state from April 2017
to August 2018, according to an RTI reply. It also revealed that cases were
registered against 177 employers in 20 districts during the period.
According to the RTI, 2,962 child
labourers were identified between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 while 1,221
such children were identified from April to August 31, 2018. The highest number
of child workers were found in Agra (268). Less than 10 child labourers were
found in some districts including Amroha (9), Badaun (4) and Etah (5).
As many as 1,244 child labourers were
rescued from 75 districts.
Umesh Gupta, a Lucknow-based social
worker who had filed the RTI query, said, “The actual figures of child
labourers in the state should be much more than 4,183. Children working in
shops, eateries and factories is a common sight across UP. It is difficult to
believe the government estimates that some districts have less than 10 child
labourers.”
According to the RTI, 1,244 child
labourers were rescued from 75 districts. While 846 children were rescued from
April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018, 398 were rescued from April to August 31,
2018.
Meanwhile, the labour department has
registered cases against 177 employers in 20 districts from April to September
2018. Of these, the highest number of cases were filed in Agra (20) followed by
Bulandshahr (19). No action has been taken against even a single employer in 55
districts. “This shows the lackadaisical approach of the authorities,” added
Gupta.
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