While scores of children continue to toil in the city, Karnataka Labour Department proposes to make Bangalore 'Child Labour Free' by 2012; initiative seems unfeasible as migrant labour inflow grows
While scores of children continue to toil in the city, Karnataka Labour Department proposes to make Bangalore 'Child Labour Free' by 2012; initiative seems unfeasible as migrant labour inflow grows
Though the country celebrates its 64th year of independence today, for the two-lakh child labourers in the city, it is just another ordinary day. These children dream of a new dawn every single day, but their fate is sealed as bondage is all that they may endure while the country celebrates freedom. 
Off record: There's no official statistics available on child labour with
any department in the state. Pic/Ramesh HSu00a0
While the Karnataka Labour Department plans to make the city 'Child Labour free' by 2012, the initiative seems far from possible -- thanks to the growing inflow of migrant labourers. "There are about 15-30 children arriving in the city every day from Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan. Aged between 5-18 years, these children earn a meagre Rs 50 atmost on a daily basis for toiling in various industries," explained Vasudev Sharma, member of the Karnataka Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KCPCR).
While hoteliers are largely involved in hiring underage workers, the domestic help industry, factories and manufacturing industries rank second and third respectively in the list of offenders.
No sight of freedom
With no official statistics available on child labour with any department in the state, activists are questioning the basis of the Karnataka Labour Department's action plan. "We want to implement this plan in a systematic way and by this month-end, we will conduct a survey to gauge the increase in child labour to arrive at an official figure. We have the upper hand because of the many young volunteers, who help us identify and rescue children working in various industries," said Jinkalappa, a senior official from the Karnataka Labour Department.
Meanwhile, a group of activists from NGOs will also be conducting surprise checks at various places across the city today. "Our initiative is to rescue as many children as possible and gift them their freedom, on a day which is symbolic to its meaning," said a child rights activist.
Going all the way
Several activists believe that the most important part of the child labour rescue operations is rehabilitation.
"Rehabilitation is crucial, but sadly many NGOs which conduct rescue operations omit this part. Rescues should be conducted under the surveillance of qualified legal officers, who will ensure that sufficient evidence is collected to contest the case in court. That process is not being followed currently," explained activist Vasudev Sharma. The city has over 100 rehabilitation centers to assist in stabilising child labour victims through socio-psychological rehabilitation. To fight this bane of contemporary society, the labour department has also set up a helpline number, 1098, which is open to callers from across the state to lodge complaints.
Rs 1.9 crore
Amount released by the government in the last 10 years to fight child labour
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