SRIKAKULAM: The delayed reaction of the district officials in cracking down on the illegal migration of children for labour work to other states is turning the bane of thousands of children. The concerned authorities have remained silent over the issue for years, though such incidents have been happening for a while. Officials mostly concentrated on arresting child labour in the district, while transportation of kids continued unabated.
Since October 2011, the district officials have rescued just 75 children, out of which almost 60 were rescued this year. Sources said that after a local private NGO complained about the trade to the district collector recently, action has been initiated this year. But already, thousands of children are working and the alarming activity has become a common practice in the rural areas of the district. Lack of awareness campaigns against such sort of activities is said to be the major reason behind their occurrence. Also, lack of employment opportunities is also another important aspect.
On Monday, parents of the rescued children staged a protest demanding that the authorities return the children to them. Out of the 75 children rescued, only 25 children have been reunited with their parents so far.
The disturbing aspect here is that the parents wanted the release of their children so that they can be sent to other states for work, even against their will. A fisherman from Badivanipeta, M Sri Ramulu, said, “There are no jobs here and the government has never bothered about us. We are not sending our children for child labour, but their work over there is helping us clear our debts and lead our lives here.”
Helping Hands Association, Srikakulam, vice president D Venkateswarlu said that the officials are maintaining a blind eye over the issue, leading to such a situation. “The officials need to conduct more awareness programmes in village and mandal levels to stop this. Moreover, literate people in fishermen villages should come forward and educate others,” he added.
Since this illegal trade came to light, officials in Srikakulam district have intensified vigilance at Railway Stations and bus stations, apart from rescuing around 197 kids working in shops, restaurants and other offices.
Apart from the child migration issues, 89 school dropouts have been rescued and counselled to return to their education. Six street children and 51 child beggars were rescued and sent to Child Welfare Houses. Officials also stopped 314 child marriages, and got written bonds from parents of 219 children, and sent the others to homes. They have also booked 14 cases of sexual harassment.