Bandaru Dattatreya recalls days as onion seller

New Delhi: Seeking to justify the exception given to children below 14 years in cases of family enterprises in the child labour (prohibition) bill, labour and employment minister Bandaru Dattatreya on Tuesday recalled how, as a child, he helped his mother sell onions after school hours.

The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill was passed with voice vote and is all set to become law as its passage in Lok Sabha is just a mere formality. Dattatreya said the amendments came “because of the pressure of NGOs. I had several rounds of talks with NGOs, including Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA)”. The bill bans employing anyone below 14 years and those in 15-18 years (adolescents) in hazardous work, except where the child helps his family.