Children under 14 found employed at Sangai Festival food stall
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 26 2015:
Three children under the age of 14 were found employed during an inspection conducted jointly by Manipur Alliance for Child Right, Labour Department and Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights at fast food stalls opened inside the main venue of the Sangai Festival on Thursday.
Deputy Labour Commissioner Elangbam Tomba informed that the issue will now be probed under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.It will be investigated whether or not the food stall had actually engaged the minors to work for the stalls.
It will also be probed if the owner of the stall could be persecuted under the prescribed law and punishment will be imposed if anyone is found guilty, said Tomba.
The inspection team informed that one Ksh Sushil of Uripok Lai Khutlembi was using the three minors in his stall (no 19) at the Sangai Festival.
However, the stall owner has stated that the children came to him and asked for some work.
MCPCR Chairperson S Sarat Sharma said that the inspection was conducted to find out cases of child labour.
The drive was also accompanied by MACR Convener Montu Ahanthem, Labour inspectors K Tikendra, M Bheigyachandra and RK Balaram.