Call to abolish bonded labour among children

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Call to abolish bonded labour among children


Express News Service

First Published : 31 Aug 2010 03:18:32 AM IST
Last Updated : 31 Aug 2010 09:02:09 AM IST
CHENNAI: The State-level consultation on the status of Arunthathiyar children in Tamil Nadu-India has unanimously recommended the immediate abolition of children forced into bonded labour, to protect their future.
In a meet organised by Arunthathiyar Human Rights Forum (AHRF)-TN here on Monday, more than 100 representatives including 50 intellectuals from different parts of the state unanimously resolved to send 21 recommendations to the state government to protect the human rights of children from the community.
Coordinator of AHRF R Karuppusamy told Express, “A special plan has to be evolved by the state government for abolition of child bonded labour among the Arunthathiyar community across the state.”
Besides suggesting a claim policy for release of bonded labourers from the community, Karuppusamy demanded that a special education package be worked out for the children to prevent them from bonded labour due to family compulsions or caste.
In its 21 recommendations, the consultation meet strongly pitched for the abolition of scavenging by Arunthathiyar children. “The children should not be made to do any scavenging activity in any school or institution. Necessary order has to be passed by the government and any school or institution in which any person is found violating this norm should be punished and penal action taken against them,” Karuppusamy said.
We will be meeting Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin in mid-September to hand over these recommendations, he added.