Government agency under scanner for child labour
February 15th, 2011 - 7:01 pm ICT by IANSBulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 15 (IANS) Even as the government make efforts to prohibit child labour, an Uttar Pradesh government-owned urban development agency itself has come under scanner for hiring minors for whitewashing and cleaning work at a housing project.Several children, aged below 14 years, were Tuesday seen sprucing up the Kanshi Ram Awas Yojna - a housing scheme for economically weaker sections of the society - in Kalindikunj town.
The renovation of the Kanshi Ram Awas Yojna is being carried out by the Bulandshahr Khurja Development Authority (BKDU) ahead of the surprise visit of Chief Minister Mayawati, who is on a whirlwind tour of Uttar Pradesh to evaluate the implementation of various developmental and welfare schemes initiated by the state government.
The Kanshi Ram Awas Yojna was launched by Mayawati for providing houses to urban poor.
Children claimed that they are paid Rs.100 on a daily basis for carrying out the work at the housing project.
“I have been asked to paint an area of the housing scheme. The contractor has assured me giving Rs.100 on a daily basis for my work,” 13-year-old Suhail told reporters in Bulandshahr, some 450 km from Lucknow.
Like Suhail, several other children can be seen climbing up the ladders for painting the walls of the housing block.
The children claimed they have been instructed to speed up the work as the chief minister can visit the site any time for inspection.
When contacted, BKDU vice chairman Aanand Vardhan told IANS: “What you are talking about has not come to my knowledge. I will act swiftly and ensure no children are deployed.”
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 years.
- Mayawati dedicates 484 welfare schemes to Kanshi Ram - Oct 09, 2011
- Ministers to brief state Congress chiefs on welfare schemes - Dec 06, 2011
- Lucknow painted blue for Kanshi Ram's birth anniversary - Mar 14, 2011
- Thousands of stone carvers helped create Mayawati's dream project - Oct 15, 2011
- Mayawati issues full-page Buddha Purnima ads in 150 dailies - May 17, 2011
- New bill to improve condition of slum dwellers: Selja - Nov 22, 2011
- Mayawati woos Muslims, other groups - Dec 17, 2011
- Agra gears up for biggest Dalit empowerment show - Apr 03, 2010
- Mayawati inaugurates 'dream project', says Congress ignored Dalit icons (Roundup) - Oct 14, 2011
- NGO recommends review of power scheme - Jul 01, 2011
- Mayawati allocates Rs.50 crore for her security, home - Aug 09, 2011
- Fire in Noida's Ambedkar park, no injuries - Jan 11, 2011
- 30 students injured as school bus rams into tree - Aug 07, 2010
- UP CM Mayawati inspects development works in Faizabad - Feb 27, 2011
- People will reply to Mayawati in polls, says BJP - Oct 14, 2011
Tags: awas, chief minister, child labour, daily basis, government agency, housing project, housing scheme, kanshi ram, lucknow, Mayawati, painting the walls, regulation act, suhail, surprise visit, urban development agency, urban poor children, uttar pradesh government, vice chairman, welfare schemes, whirlwind tour