Say no to child labour: Commission to society

GUWAHATI, June 12: On the occasion of ‘World Day against Child Labour’, the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) on Tuesday appealed to all sections of the society to refrain from employing children in offices, business establishments and individual residences.

In a government communiqué, the Chairperson of the SCPCR, Dr Sunita Changkakati said that despite all the efforts, child labour is still prevailing in the State. “If we see at the Census Report of 2011, we find that 5 in every 100 children between the age group of 5 to 14 years in the State are child labours,” Changkakati said. As per the Census Report of 2011, in Assam 4.9 per cent of the total population of children in the age group of 5 to 14 years are employed as child labour.

Highlighting the above mentioned fact, Dr Sunita Changkakati also appealed the parents of vulnerable section not to let their children work and stressed that Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, ensures free education to children up to the age of 14 years.

Further stating that the actual figures might be even more than what has been reported in the Census Report of 2011, the Chairperson said, “People should report child rights violation cases to competent authorities. If they fear to approach police than they can approach us, we will keep their names confidential.”

Appreciating the work done by various district child labour Task Force, she also appealed all the district task forces to be more vigilant.