By Tejang Chakma
IT has been more than one year, the state government of Meghalaya claimed to have rescued about 232 children working in the coal mines in the state. But, it has miserably failed to rehabilitate the rescued child labourers so far. Officially, only 32 rescued child labourers were provided rehabilitation. The fate of about 200 rescued children is unknown. There is no information about their whereabouts.
IT has been more than one year, the state government of Meghalaya claimed to have rescued about 232 children working in the coal mines in the state. But, it has miserably failed to rehabilitate the rescued child labourers so far. Officially, only 32 rescued child labourers were provided rehabilitation. The fate of about 200 rescued children is unknown. There is no information about their whereabouts.
The issue of the child labour made “headlines” after an NGO reported that 70,000 children were working in the coal mines of the state. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo-motu cognizance of a press report and directed the Chief Secretary, Meghalaya to submit a report (NHRC Case No: 22/15/3/2010-CL).
Following pressure, the state government conducted a survey and found more than 200 children, including children from Nepal and Bangladesh, working in the coal mines. A report was submitted to the NHRC.
Subsequently, the NHRC directed the state government to work on a rehabilitation package to help the rescued children working in hazardous situations.
Yet, the state government could rehabilitate only 32 rescued children as of date.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is also looking into the matter. While the Centre deputed a team to visit the coal mining areas in Jaintia Hills to ascertain the prevalence of children working in hazardous zones.
Despite many actors being involved with the issue, the rehabilitation of about 200 rescued children is still a distant dream. It would not be wrong to assume that the matter has been got delayed due to the involvement of multiple actors.
According to the latest status checked from the NHRC website, it appears that the NHRC has asked the NCPCR to inform the status of the case and date of cognizance. However, the NCPCR failed to respond following which NHRC issued a remainder. The silence of the NCPCR to the NHRC is not known. But, the silence by the NCPCR has clearly delayed the NHRC from proceeding with its case. It appears that the NHRC will not proceed with the case if the NCPCR took cognizance before it.
It is extremely important that the NHRC proceed with its own case irrespective of whether or not the NCPCR took cognizance before NHRC as the matter calls for urgent action to provide justice to these unfortunate children.
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