BMC Corporators to Join Fight against Child Labour

BHUBANESWAR: Corporators of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will now join School and Mass Education (S&ME) Department in the fight against child labour in the Capital. S&ME Department recently organised a special programme to sensitise the corporators about prevalence of child labour in the city.

Department Secretary Usha Padhee said the purpose of the programme was to take up a non-negotiable resolve towards abolition of child labour in the city. This can be achieved by first sensitising the public representatives about the extent of the problem and apprising them about the ways in which it can be tackled, she added.

“Though the corporators are aware of the prevalence of child labour, they are ignorant about the Government provisions which can assist them in fighting this menace,” Padhee said.

The corporators were directed to display child helpline numbers throughout their Wards.

A senior BMC official said according to the Orissa Municipal Corporation Act, 2003, all the Corporations should be actively involved in implementation of the International Convention of Child Rights which discourages child labour in any form.

S&ME Department has cracked its whip against child labour in the city in the last few months. About 20 child labourers were rescued and rehabilitated in a special school managed by the Department where they were counselled regularly. But the efforts proved futile as majority of the rehabilitated children were taken back by their parents after a few weeks.