The Dimapur District Task Force’s immediate response team led by deputy commissioner Sushil Kumar Patel on Wednesday rescued 41 child labourers from various locations here, nodal coordinator of Childline 1098, Neiketulie Namdau, said in a release on Thursday.
Childline 1098 is a child welfare nongovernmental organisation based here.
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The children in the age group 10-14 years were rescued from various garages, workshops, hotels and shops at Duncan Bosti, Notun Bosti, Churches Colony, Khermahal, Golaghat Road and Eros Lane area during a rescue operation.
The release said the rescued children were produced before the Dimapur Child Welfare Committee along with their parents and guardians.
It was informed that the employers were also summoned before the Child Welfare Committee and penalised in accordance with the statutory provisions. They were also made to sign bonds declaring that they would not employ in the future any children under 14 years of age.
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Further, the employers were also sensitised on the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, Child and Adolescent Labour and Prohibition Act and the Right to Education Act, the release stated.
Deputy Commissioner Patel, who is the chairman of the Dimapur District Task Force on Child Labour, spoke to the children and highlighted the negative impact of child labour and the importance of education. He encouraged the children to pursue education and not engage in or seek employment in any work so that they would be educated and become successful citizens in the future.
The task force said it would conduct more such rescue operations and raids regularly in different locations. It warned that any person found employing children below the age of 14 years of age would be dealt with strictly in accordance with statutory regulations. The penalty includes fine, imprisonment or both, and even cancellation of trade license.