The officials of the labour department have rescued 77 children, who were illegally employed as labourers in various shops in Surat textile market, on Tuesday. The raids are part of the state-wide drive to check child labour. |
According to information received from official sources, fifty officers of the labour department, swooped down on the market, with the highest number of textile firms, yesterday. Word about the raids spread around in the market, as well as the other textile markets, after which, many shops were closed down. |
Officials said that the raids continued for well over four hours, during which, a total of 77 children, who were employed in various textile firms, were rescued. The children were mostly involved in works such as saree cutting and packing. The children were sent to the remand home in Katargam, where they were handed over to parents. |
Legal steps would be initiated against the traders who had employed child labourers, officials added. |
It is worth mentioning here that these raids were part of the state-wide drive to check child labour in various industries. Similar raids were conducted in the textile market area of Surat in mid-July, during which 74 children were rescued. |
Several child labourers were also rescued from industries units in Ahmedabad and Rajkot by the labour department. |
Meantime, the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association has appealed to all textile traders to follow norms related to child labour. |
A releasing quoting the federation's spokesman Devkishan Manghani, said, "Employing children under the age of 14 is an offence. The federation has appealed for steps to curb child labour in the past, but the appeals have been ignored. In its own interest, the industry should abstain from encouraging or supporting child labour. The traders should keep away from employing child labourers, and also stop availing the services of parcel contractors and cutting-packing contractors who employ children." |