Shabroz Malik
Baramulla, Nov, 12: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Baramulla, in collaboration with the District Child Protection Unit, District Child Helpline, District Labour Department, and District Juvenile Police Unit and District Police Unit conducted an Anti-Child Labour and Begging drive in the district Baramulla. This Pan India campaign focuses on rescuing children and adolescents engaged in labor across various child labor-prone areas of the district, including both big and small establishments.
This drive led to the rescue of five suspected minors from locations including malls, restaurants, markets, and workshops.
During the inspections, employers were warned about the strict legal consequences under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act for employing children under 18. Ms. Nazia from the CWC issued a stern message, stating that any individual or business found engaging children in labor, begging, or trafficking would face stringent criminal action. Mr. Amjad of the Labour Department reinforced this warning, cautioning that business licenses could be canceled for violations.
The CWC also urged the public to report any cases of child exploitation by contacting the Child Helpline at 1098. Businesses are now mandated to prominently display the Child Helpline number to increase awareness and encourage reporting of child labor incidents.
The recent efforts have led to a noticeable decrease in child labor cases across local businesses in Baramulla, demonstrating the impact of the ongoing of such drives
