SRINAGAR: The labour department of Jammu and Kashmir rescued at least eight juveniles in the last two days from various parts of Srinagar, in a drive against child labour.
Quoting an official from the labour department, KNO reported that the child rescue drive was planned by the department in Lal Chowk and adjacent areas of Srinagar in order to check for child labor in Srinagar City and to sensitise the people about the menace of child labour.
Assistant Labour Commissioner Srinagar, Arshid Qadir said that a team of labour department officials raided various shops in Lal Chowk in the past two days and found the two juveniles working at Shakti Sweet Shop Srinagar. “The officials immediately rescued the juveniles and asked the shop owner to submit age proof within two days, failing which they would face legal consequences,” he said.
Qadir said that a total of eight children have been rescued since Monday. “The child labour needs to be properly checked whether the individual is working with family on his own, or with someone else. The drive will continue till December,” Qadir said, adding that they are focusing on the drive in concentrated areas. He sought people’s cooperation in curbing the child labour menace in Srinagar.
Asked about beggars in Srinagar, Qadir said that they first have to investigate the matter. “There is a need for a full-fledged team from the Labour department and anti-trafficking unit to nail the child begging nexus. We are working on a plan to check the child-begin menace also,” he said.
