43 child workers saved from BT cotton field
Rescued children were handed over to Child Welfare Committee officials
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-10-17 06:22 GMT
Salem: As many as 43 child labourers, who toiled in BT Cotton farms at Athur in Salem, were rescued on Thursday. A team of officials led by labour inspector N. Thirunathan, district child protection officer A. Devaki, Unicef child welfare advisor P. Balamurugan and revenue officials conducted intensive raids on seven BT cotton farms and rescued 43 children employed there.
They were subjected to a medical test at primary health centre in Siruvachur, which revealed that 14 children are below 14 years. Following this, all the rescued children were handed over to Child Welfare Committee officials. District child protection officer A. Devaki said that the rescued children hailed from tribal villages like Javvathu Malai and Kalrayan Malai of Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Velur districts.
They were brought here by paying Rs5,000 to 10,000 to the families of children.The children were paid Rs 250 a day and they had to work from 7am till evening. They will be employed for three months from October, when pollination takes place in the BT cotton fields. As the cotton plants are short, the farm owners employ tribal children, who can do the job better, than elders. Last year too, the authorities raided the farms and rescued 22 children.
A complaint has been registered against the seven farm owners at Thalaivasal police station. Investigations are underway and an arrest in imminent, sources said. Poverty is one major reason for children being sent to farm work by their parents. “One child said he doesn’t have a mother and his father has taken ill. Hence the child came to work and earns a living. Another child that had studied upto class nine and was interested in pursuing higher studies, if given a chance,” Devaki said.