Migration makes children labourers

MYSORE: Growing migration from rural areas to urban areas might increase child labour in years to come, said principal district and sessions judge MohanSripadSankolli on Wednesday.
Mohan was speaking at the inauguration of World Anti-child Labour Day programme jointly organized by the labour department, district legal service authority, district administration, police separtment and National Child Labour Programme Society.
"Public play a major role in eradication of child labour from society. Poverty, lack of education and migration from rural to urban areas are some of the reasons for child labour. It's high time to educate parents and sensitize them about it," he said
Stressing on the need to eradicate child labour, zilla panchayat CEO P A Gopal said that panchayat officers have been appointed to keep a tab on child labour in the panchayat level. Children working in farms also come under the Child Labour Act, he added.
Police commissioner K L Sudheer said: "There is a need for proper rehabilitation and education for child labourers and there lies a responsibility on us not to let a child lose his childhood. Police department is ready to help the labour department to eradicate child labour."
SP Dileep R said they have taken adequate measures to sensitize police personnel to eradicate child labour from society.
A workshop on sensitization and eradication of child labour and role of public in its eradication was organized on the occasion.
A case in point
Eight years ago Arun, then 10, was rescued from a fast food joint near Suburban bus stand by the labour department. A native of a small village near K R Pete taluk in Mandya district, poverty drove him to run away from his house. He came to Mysore and worked in a restaurant for Rs 2,000 per month. After the raid, he was admitted to Srikanteshwara Child Labour Residential School. Arun passed SSLC with distinction and has taken up Science in Pre University. "I am keen on continuing my education now. I want to be an engineer," he said.