‘Child labour a threat to state’

SHILLONG: Minister in charge of Labour Department Prestone Tynsong has admitted that there is prevalence of child labour in the state and said a mechanism is in place to monitor it.
Addressing a gathering at a workshop on elimination of bonded and child labour on Friday at Yojana Bhavan here, Tynsong said while bonded labour is “negligible” in Meghalaya, child labour is a threat.
At the same time, the minister informed that the Labour Department has enough manpower, like labour inspectors and district task force, for keeping a tab on the situation.
Chief Secretary Y Tsering said labour inspectors in each block should monitor the extent of child labour.
Speaking about bonded labour, member of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Justice PC Ghosh said, “The mindset of each one of us has to be changed. It is our first duty to change our mind in the light of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976 which has been enacted by the Constitution and by our parliamentarians.”
A 2016 Global Slavery Index showed India had the most slaves in the world.
“There are an estimated 46 million people enslaved worldwide with more than 18 million of them in India,” the survey had said.
Ranjit Singh, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) joint secretary, said both bonded and child labour is a social stigma and Friday’s workshop, besides creating awareness, “will deliberate and discuss the best practices to ensure that the society is free from this menace”.
Apart from the challenge of interstate migrant workers, non-payment and disparity in wages, long working hours and curtailment of freedom of movement, sexual abuse and lack of survey, research and database are some of the hurdles which need to be addressed.
The technical session at the workshop, chaired by Ghosh, saw interactions with office bearers of brick kilns, stone crushing, mining and other related industries in Meghalaya.
Presentations on bonded labour and on Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour, 2016 were also made.
The views of NGOs and victims on identification, release and rehabilitation of bonded and child labourers in the state also formed part of the discussions.
Among other guests at the event were Principal Secretary of Labour Department D P Wahlang, DGP R Chandranathan and Chairperson of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Meena Kharkongor.
Research scholars from different universities and labour officers from different districts were also part of the workshop.