Violation of child rights’ for any poll-related work “is in no way acceptable.” said Election Commission

The Election Commission has warned the District Election Officers and the Returning Officers that they would be personally held responsible if there was any report of employment of child labourers for poll-related works.
Taking cognizance of a photograph published by The Hindu on Thursday wherein children were seen carrying the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), prior to the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls in Bhagalpur constituency in Bihar, the Commission said the use of child workers was “highly objectionable.”
The Commission – Chief Election Commissioner Navin B. Chawla and Election Commissioners S.Y. Quraishi and V.S. Sampath – which went through the report about employment of child labourers, in a letter to the Chief Secretaries and Chief Electoral Officers of the States/Union Territories on Friday, said those violating the child labour laws would face the consequences of law and severe disciplinary action.
Violation of child rights’ for any poll-related work “is in no way acceptable.” The Commission, taking “strong exception” to the practice, also sent a copy of the photograph published in The Hindu along with the letter to the officials.
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, prohibits employment of children below 14 years in occupations such as transport of goods etc. considered unsafe and harmful to them and regulates the conditions of work of children.
The violators could face imprisonment from three months to one year and fine between Rs.10,000 and Rs.20,000 or both. Besides the violators had to deposit Rs.20,000 in the name of the rescued child to the Child Labour Rehabilitation cum Welfare Fund.


[Source: The Hindu, Saturday, May 02, 2009]