From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Concerned over reports of child labourers working in dismal conditions in Meghalaya’s coal belts, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Tuesday directed the State Government to undertake a survey mapping of the mines and mining areas of the State.
The NCPCR asked the Meghalaya government to undertake this exercise in Lad-Rymbai and Rymbai in Jaintia Hills district.
It has also asked the concerned department to ensure that mapping of schools and survey of out-of-school children in the state is done within three months, the Commission said in a statement.
“The directives include ensuring mapping of the schools and survey of the out-of-school children in the State within three months, undertake mapping of schools in the coalmine and coal depot areas of Lad-Rymbai and Rymbai in Jaintia Hills district,” the Commission said.
The Commission also raised serious concern over plight of the children working in hotels and eateries and the children affected with HIV and AIDS.
An NCPCR team had visited the state from October 16-18 to look into the problem of child labour in coal mines of the state.
A team, led by Dr Yogesh Dube, Member, NCPCR, had a meeting with the Chief Secretary and representatives from various departments (Social Welfare, Education, Labour, Mining and Police among others) of the Government of Meghalaya.
The Commission asked for a status report on School Health Programme and Immunisation initiative in the state within two weeks from the Health department.
It also directed the State Government to constitute a state-level Core Committee on Child Labour under the leadership of Secretary Labour, along with the Secretaries of Education, Home, Social Welfare and Deputy Commissioners of the vulnerable districts as its members. The directives include ensuring that corporal punishment was not practised in the schools.
They were also shocked to learn about the pathetic situation of the street, disabled and HIV/AIDS affected children in the state.
Reports of widespread child labour in different coal mines were raised at different fora earlier. (With inputs from agencies)