Ban on child labour in force from Oct 10

 The Labour Ministry, which has already prohibited the government employees from engaging children as domestic help, recently issued a notification warning that anyone employing children would be liable to prosecution and other penal action, including fine and a one-year jail term.'

 The fresh notification prohibits employment of children as domestic servants or servants in dhabas (roadside eateries), restaurants, hotels, motels, teashops, resorts, spas and recreational centres.

While the government has decided to crack the whip, experts are of the view that a ban without a proper rehabilitation plan will backfire.

Shaiju Varghese, coordinator of "Childline" (child helpline), said it will be difficult for implementing a encies to locate domestic workers unless society is sensitised.

The Labour Ministry is, however, planning to strengthen and expand its rehabilitative scheme of National Child Labour Project, which now covers 250 child labour endemic districts.