Punjab adopts Meghalya model to curb child labour

Punjab government today adopted the Meghalya model to curb child labour under which provisions will be of Rs 20,000 as fine and three months imprisonment to offenders.
A meeting under the chairmanship of Sukesh Kalia, Chairman, Punjab State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights was held.
It was recommended that a notice containing the provision of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 that a child below the age of 14 years indulged in arduous and hazardous jobs or labour is considered a crime, an official said.
"The offenders are liable to a fine of Rs 20,000 and three months imprisonment", he said.

The punishment will be prominently displayed at strategic points of each small or big shop, business establishment, restaurant and factories on the lines of Meghalaya model to eradicate the menace of child labour growing at "alarming pace" in the state, he said.
Agreeing to the recommendation of Child Commission, Punjab's Labour Department directed all the Assistant Labour Commissioners and Deputy/Assistant Director of Factories of the state to adopt Meghalaya model to eradicate the "growing menace" of child labour in the state.
Kalia said that he and his team had gone to north eastern state to attend 'State Child Protection Day Programme' and noticed that the Meghalaya Government has put up a kind of deterrent to the practise of child labour.

Kalia suggested the state government to prominently display the notice of the fine to be slapped on the lawbreakers and also imprisonment for three months, in each small or big shop, business establishment, restaurant and factories.