Rescued child labourers handed over to Assam
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 07, 2013:
Nine children from Assam who were being used as labourers illegally in Manipur have been handed over to the Assam
Government by Social Welfare Minister Ak Mirabai, during a function held at the Observation Hall, Takyelpat today.
The nine children were handed over to
the custody of Thoubal Child Welfare Committee by Kakching PS on July 25 last after they were found working as labourers in a bakery at Keirak Makha
Leikai.
Speaking on the occasion, Mala Lisham, Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee, Thoubal, stated that these children were made to work in the
bakery after they were brought from Karimganj district in Assam by one Md Jalaluddin (35), s/o Nooruddin.
All the nine children are Muslims.
Md Jalaludin
has been arrested by the police in this regard.
She further stated that these children were made to work in the bakery by the owner without paying
adequate salaries.
They have been staying in Manipur and involved in the bakery works for the last 4/5 years.
The Assam Govt came to take back the children
after they were informed by the Social Welfare Dept, Govt of Manipur.
The District Child Protection Officer of Karimganj district, Gautam Sahakia and five
other police personnel of the district led by a Sub-Inspector also attended the function.
Minister Mirabai handed an amount of Rs 5000 to each of the nine
children before handing them over to the custody of Assam Government.
Minister AK Mirabai stated that cases of child labour and child trafficking in the
State has risen of late and it has become a big issue today.
We should understand that use of children below the age of 18 as labourer is against the law
and is punishable.
The Minister further stated that the staff strength of ICDS will be increased and a number of branches will be opened and make them
functional very soon.
Special drive to identify child labour in the State would also be taken up, she assured.
The Minister went on to say that the
types of punishment that would be given to the accused person involved in child labour and child trafficking would be finalized very soon.
There are also
reports that a number of children from Assam are still engaged as child labours in Wangjing, Sangai Yumpham, Khongjom, Kakching and Wangoi.
These children
will also be picked up and send to their respective homes very soon, she added.