The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Dehradun to investigate a private company that reportedly hired child labourers to work in their Selaqui factory.
Last month, the chairperson of the commission Usha Negi had inspected a factory in Selaqui where she found 94 suspected child labourers but the date of birth in their Aadhar Card, which was on the same date and day showed them as adults. Negi said that as per the reports provided by the Dehradun Child Welfare Committee (CWC), many children during their counselling stated that they were working there voluntarily. However, the committee has expressed its concern to commission over the matter that there are about 32 girls who were working in the factory but they all have the same date of birth in Aadhar Card which is January 1. Alleging that these Aadhar cards might be fake and can affect the lives of many children, CWC asked the commission to take the necessary action in this matter.
Moreover, Negi has also stated that there are about 700 women out of total 1300 workers in the factory but even the basic facilities like clean women toilets, dustbin, handwash and a functioning light bulb in toilets are not provided to female workers. There should be at least a separate room with sufficient toys and facilities for the small kids of the women where they can play or sleep during the working hours of their mothers, said Negi. She stated that there are 700 female workers in the factory but there are no proper arrangements for these women to discuss issues like sexual harassment in the workplace as per the government rules. Furthermore, Negi added that the smoke generating in the factory is also drained over the roof of the women toilet which causes asphyxiation and throat problems to women. Directing SSP to take cognisance of all such issues in the factory, Negi ordered him to submit the investigation report within 15 days in the commission.
Saturday, 05 December 2020 | PNS | Dehradun
