By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: After being criticized by the National Commission for Protection of Child’s Right (NCPCR) for certain loopholes in the State Mining Policy, Deputy Chief Minister termed the NCPCR statement as ” utter non-sense.”
Talking to The Shillong Times here on Saturday, Lanong, who holds Mining and Geology portfolios, said “How is child labour and rat hole mining connected in the state”?
It may be mentioned that the NCPCR member Dr Yogesh Dube, had lashed out at the State Mining Policy while demanding a complete ban on rat hole mining system prevalent in the State.
“In rat hole mining children would be scared to go inside but in open cast they will just go and play,” Lanong said.
Dr Dube had castigated the policy while asserting that “it does not ensure a complete ban on child labour ban.”
“If rat hole mining should be banned then they should provide us with an alternative also,” Lanong added.
Lanong said there was a provision in the policy which “prohibits the engagement of child in mining areas but Government cannot write an essay on it.”
The Minister also added that the matter of child labour comes under the jurisdiction of the Labour department and not the mining department.
