NHRC Workshop on Elimination of Bonded Labour and Child Labour with focus on illegal mining at Shillong, Meghalaya concludes (08.02.2019)



New Delhi, 8th February, 2019

The National Human Rights Commission’s day long Workshop on Elimination of Bonded Labour and Child Labour System with focus on illegal mining in Meghalaya concluded at Yojana Bhawan Auditorium, Shillong, Meghalaya today on the 8th February, 2019. Mr. Justice P.C. Ghose, Member, NHRC, chaired the Workshop organized in collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya. Mr. Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya was the chief guest at the workshop which was attended by the over 200 delegates including among others the State Chief Secretary and DGP.

The workshop assumed significance in the light of coal mining without necessary permissions in the State despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal in 2014. The allegation of bonded child labour in these illegal mines has been a point of concern for the NHRC. The objective of the Workshop was that with the exchange of ideas and experiences a proactive approach and measures could be to be taken to sensitize all the stakeholders and awareness about this menace prevailing in our society.

Some of the major take away points were:-
i) Raise awareness and sensitization programme at grass root level
ii) Change of mindset and attitude towards the problem of child labour to
iii) Involve all stake holders
iv) Encourage online research
v) Encourage registration of workers

The participants also included NGOs and representatives of brick kilns, stone crushing and other related industries. Academic, research scholars and Students/Research Scholars from IIM, Shillong, North-Eastern Hill University and Mahatma Gandhi University, Shillong.

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