MANSI BHAMBRI | Dehradun
Claiming that there is no child labour in Rishikesh, the Labour department is considering conducting campaigns and a thorough survey before officially declaring the area a child labour-free zone, the assistant labour commissioner Rishikesh Deepak Kumar said.
He informed that since assuming charge in Rishikesh in June, various campaigns and awareness activities have been conducted aimed at addressing child labour in Rishikesh. He averred that no child labourers have been rescued during these initiatives. Additionally, he said that, based on data of the past year to the present, only one case of child labour was reported in April 2025. This indicates a low prevalence of child labour in Rishikesh.
Kumar further informed that with this, they have decided to conduct additional campaigns in the coming days. He said that the district task force will carry out a survey on child labour in Rishikesh. The findings from this survey and campaign will lead to a conclusion about the status of child labour in the area. If no child labour is found during these activities, Rishikesh will be declared a child labour-free zone.
Kumar added that three main reasons for the low incidence of child labour in Rishikesh. First, the city is considered religious and people often view child labour as socially unacceptable. Second, Rishikesh is a tourist destination that attracts many foreigners and child labour is regarded negatively in European countries. Consequently, to maintain a positive image and attract tourists, locals refrain from practicing child labour. Lastly, the city’s small size is another significant factor contributing to the low number of child labourers in Rishikesh.
He further added that an operation to rescue child labourers will also be conducted in the upcoming days in light of the Deepawali festival. During this time, the number of children working in temporary stalls selling Deepawali goods may increase. Therefore, an operation targeting child labour at these temporary stalls in Rishikesh will also take place.
