Child labour: survey finds 140 hotspots

A survey conducted by the Women and Child Development (WCD) department this year in all districts to detect child labour and child beggary detected 140 hotspots, Minister for Women and Child Development Veena George has said.

The maximum number of hotspots were found in Ernakulam district – 30. Thiruvananthapuram had 12 hotspots, Kollam 11, Pathanamthitta six, Alappuzha 10, Kottayam seven, Idukki 13, Thrissur nine, Palakkad four, Malappuram nine, Kozhikode four, Wayanad eight, Kannur 19, and Kasaragod seven, a statement quoting the Minister said.

These hotspots covered festival zones, companies, and plantations. Efforts to check child labour and beggary centred on these locations would be strengthened by the WCD in association with the Labour department and the police to completely eliminate child labour by next year, the Minister said.

Last financial year, 704 rescue drives were held as part of the Sarana Balyam project implemented by the WCD to identify children engaged in child labour and rehabilitate them. Fifty-six children found likely to engage in child labour were rehabilitated.

The Minister said Sarana Balyam had been linked to Kaval Plus to provide long-term services and rehabilitate children. Those rescued were presented in front of child welfare committees (CWCs). If they belonged to other States, they were sent to the CWCs of their respective States. If that was not possible, their care and protection and rehabilitation was taken up by the WCD.

In case of child labour incidents, call 1098 or message 8281899479 on WhatsApp.