Child workers rescued in five years yet to get compensation

RTI REPLY 33 of them rescued in Alwar between 201015 still to get dues It is unfortunate that none of the children have been paid the compensation that is prescribed by the law. This also shows the laxity of officials of subsequent administrations, which has kept the children waiting for their dues

Child workers rescued in Rajasthan’s Alwar district between 2010 and 2015 are still waiting for compensation, an RTI query has revealed.

The state labour department, in reply to an application filed by rights activist Deshraj Singh, has revealed that none of the 33 children who were rescued during the five year period, have been paid compensation.

A Supreme Court directive states that people, who employ child workers, have to pay a compensation of ₹ 20,000 to a welfare fund established for rehabilitating the rescued children.

This apart, the state governments too have to contribute ₹5,000 to the fund, taking the total compensation to ₹ 25,000.

“It is unfortunate that none of the children have been paid the compensation that is prescribed by the law. This also shows the laxity of officials of subsequent administrations, which has kept the children waiting for their dues,” said Singh.

“The RTI reply also said that until now, no action has been taken against the erring officials who failed to provide compensation to the children,” he said.

State labour department figures reveal that most of the rescued children didn’t undergo any medical tests. The menace of child labour is prevalent in Rajasthan and the number of cases has increased in the last few years in places, including Jaipur, the state capital.

According to data available with police, the number of cases in Jaipur has doubled over the years, with maximum concentration in northern part of the city — Ramganj, Bhatta Basti, Galta Gate, Shastri Nagar and Vidyadhar Nagar.

Most of the children are trafficked from states such as Bihar and Jharkhand and are forced to work in inhuman conditions.

“We have written a letter to the labour department, asking it to provide compensation to the child labourers who have been rescued in the last few years and are still waiting for the money,” said Shravan Singh Singhal of Alwar-based child welfare committee.