Volunteers are being appointed on check posts on State borders as well as Octroi tax collection centres at towns' borders to check for child labourers and prevent them from coming from Rajasthan.
A series of letters has been written to Chief Minister, Rural Labour commission, Labour Commissioner, Agriculture Minister, Secretary, MLA and MP of the Sabarkantha and Bansakantha to take action to stop children coming from Rajasthan.
On 3rd July 2007 the representative from GALU and CACL met Mr K. Ninama- Rural commissioner to make aware about the situation and asked them to take the action to stop children working on BT cotton farm.
He informed us that he had already deputed his team for the investigation in 16 talukas of the Sabarkantha and Bansakantha District. According to him each team would consist of three labour officers and they would carry out investigation fortnightly.
To see the situation in ground GALU and CACL conducted three days visit in Ider Taluka from 24th to 26th August 2007. The team of seven members visited most of the farm in Ider Taluka.
While during the visit the team found that each farm there was five to seven children were working. As soon as they saw our vehicle many children were run away from the farm.
We talked with contractors but they were reluctant to provide any information. We got repeated answer that speak to our “ Malik” Landlord. We organised five meetings with farmers to inform them about the CLPRA Act during the visit.
We have prepared a report of our visit and submitted to Collector and Rural Commissioner. GALU and CACL plan from coming days is weekly investigation and filing case in Labour and police department.
GALU and CACL received very good support from Media to highly this issue. In last months many news papers and T.V channel reported about the issue of Child- Labour on BT cotton farm.
We received good support from Mr M.D Mistry- MP of Sabarkantha. He strictly instructed the administration of Sabarkantha District to take action and asked for the joint investigation of Labour officers and the representative of GALU and CACL.
Gujarat Agriculture Labour Union
marketing@alchempro.com
