Report on Child workers in mines; NHRC takes suo-motu cognizance
New Delhi 26th May 2005
The NHRC has taken suo-motu cognizance of a news item quoting a report stating that lakhs of children are employed in State Mines in Karnataka.
The news story appeared in a national daily dated 16th May 2005 wherein it was reported that an NGO named HAQ-Centre for Children Rights published a report alleging that several lakh children starting from the age of five are working in the mines at Hospet, Sandur and Ikal belt of Karnataka in horrible and hazardous conditions and in violation of Child and Labour laws. These children it quoted the report as stating are illegally forced into mining activities and used for digging, breaking stones, loading, dumping, transporting and processing of iron ore with no safety equipment, fixed wages and working hours. The report further alleged that most of the workers working in these areas are migrant labourers working in hazardous and painful condition in the mines and related ancillary activities. The children, it reported, are handling high level of toxic wastes and exposed to mine dust, which is above the permissible level and, therefore, are susceptible to serious chronic health problems. The Mine owner, it stated, is blatantly violating labour laws by employing children and making them work under exploitative and inhumane conditions. The school dropout rate in the region is high, as the children have been sucked into the vicious labour market the report quoted.
The NHRC has directed that a copy of the news story be sent to the Chief Secretary, Karnataka and Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, New Delhi to look into the allegations and submit their comments within two weeks.
The NHRC has taken suo-motu cognizance of a news item quoting a report stating that lakhs of children are employed in State Mines in Karnataka.
The news story appeared in a national daily dated 16th May 2005 wherein it was reported that an NGO named HAQ-Centre for Children Rights published a report alleging that several lakh children starting from the age of five are working in the mines at Hospet, Sandur and Ikal belt of Karnataka in horrible and hazardous conditions and in violation of Child and Labour laws. These children it quoted the report as stating are illegally forced into mining activities and used for digging, breaking stones, loading, dumping, transporting and processing of iron ore with no safety equipment, fixed wages and working hours. The report further alleged that most of the workers working in these areas are migrant labourers working in hazardous and painful condition in the mines and related ancillary activities. The children, it reported, are handling high level of toxic wastes and exposed to mine dust, which is above the permissible level and, therefore, are susceptible to serious chronic health problems. The Mine owner, it stated, is blatantly violating labour laws by employing children and making them work under exploitative and inhumane conditions. The school dropout rate in the region is high, as the children have been sucked into the vicious labour market the report quoted.
The NHRC has directed that a copy of the news story be sent to the Chief Secretary, Karnataka and Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, New Delhi to look into the allegations and submit their comments within two weeks.