Shillong, Feb 8:A day long workshop on Elimination of Bonded Labour and Child Labour System jointly organized by National Human Rights Commission and Labour Department, Government of Meghalaya was held at Yojana Bhawan, Secretariat, Shillong today which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong as the Chief Guest.
During his Inaugural Address, Chief Guest, Deputy Chief Minister, P Tynsong said that though Bonded Labour is negligible in the State of Meghalaya he observed that Child Labour is a threat to the State. He informed that the State government has been taking the initiative and taking proactive steps to ensure that the State is free from the menace of Child Labour. He added that the workshop will help in further strengthening the system which is already in place to check Bonded Labour and child Labour.
Earlier, in his Key Note Address, Justice P C Godse, Member, National Human Rights Commission informed that the objective of the workshop is to raise awareness amongst the States and also discuss the issues of interstate migrant labour. He said that there are challenges in the implementation of Bonded Labour Abolition Act, 1976 and hoped that the workshop will provide valuable insights in monitoring and implementing the Act. He further added that even as the Act is in place creating awareness about the Act and legislations is respect to Bonded Labour is the need of the hour. Considering the seriousness of the issue of child Labour in the coal mines of the State he added that the workshop would help to create awareness and sensitize all stakeholders for the eradication, release and rehabilitation of Bonded and Child Labour system.
Giving the Concept and Objective of the Workshop, Joint Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Dr Ranjit Singh said that both Bonded and Child Labour are a stigma to society and the workshop besides creating awareness and sensitization would deliberate and discuss the best practices to ensure that the society is free from this menace. He said that in addition to the challenge of interstate migrant labour, nonpayment and disparity of wages, long working hours, and curtailment of freedom of movement, sexual abuse and lack of survey, research and database are some of the challenges that need to be addressed.
The Technical Session that was chaired by Justice P C Ghose, discussed and had interactions with representatives and office bearers of brick kilns, stone crushing, illegal mining and other related industries in Meghalaya. Presentations on Bonded Labour and on Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour 2016 were also made during the Technical Session. The views of NGOs/Victims on the situation on identification, release and rehabilitation of released bonded labourers and Child Labourers from Meghalaya also formed part of the discussion and deliberation of the day.
Also present were Chief Secretary, Meghalaya, Y Tsering, Principal Secretary, Labour Department, Meghalaya, D P Wahlang DGP Meghalaya, R Chandranathan, P Haneman, Member, Meghalaya Human Rights Commision, Meena Kharkongor, Chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Research Scholars from different universities and labour officers from different districts of the State were also present for the workshop.
