Child labour laws are not mere written words — Official

KOHIMA — Nagaland faces a critical challenge with child labour deeply rooted within its society, stated Deputy Labour Commissioner T Chubayanger during a sensitisation workshop on child labour laws in Kohima on Wednesday. He called for renewed urgency and a collaborative approach to combat the issue.

The workshop, organised by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in collaboration with the Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR) and facilitated by Lacit Yuba Bikash Kendra, focused on the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act of 1986 and its amendments.

Chubayanger highlighted the lack of clear legal procedures to determine hazardous occupations for children and the absence of regulations protecting adolescents from exploitative working conditions.

“Our collective mission must be to ensure that these laws are not just written words but are actively enforced and integrated into the fabric of our society,” the officer said.

Calling upon the stakeholders to commit to protecting the rights and dignity of children and adolescents, he pointed to poverty, inadequate educational facilities, lack of opportunities and a lack of awareness about children’s rights, as the root causes of child labour that needs to be addressed in the state.

Chubayanger outlined a multi-pronged approach to combat child labour, stressing the need for robust enforcement of the Child and Adolescent Labour Act, ensuring accessible and effective reporting mechanisms for violations. Public awareness campaigns, he argued, should highlight the detrimental impacts of child labour and promote education as a fundamental right and a pathway to a brighter future.

Addressing the economic roots of the problem, he also called for support systems that alleviate financial pressures on vulnerable families. This includes vocational training for parents, increased access to financial resources and sustainable livelihoods, and strengthened social welfare programmes to alleviate poverty.

Communities must understand that investing in their children’s education is an investment in their future, he added.

He went on to say that collaborations between government agencies, civil society organisations, and private stakeholders are crucial for developing innovative solutions and sharing best practices.

Further stressing the importance of continuous research and monitoring to gather reliable data on the prevalence and nature of child labour in Nagaland, he said that this data-driven approach is essential for creating effective policies and interventions that reflect the realities on the ground.

Tongpang Jamir, Advocate at the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench, raised concerns about Nagaland’s vulnerability to human trafficking due to its geographical location. He also highlighted the alarming rise of domestic child labour, citing a survey in Dimapur that found 264 child domestic workers in just one colony, out of 1112 houses surveyed.

Child labour is a growing problem in Nagaland, increasing from 3000 to 11,000 within a few years across the districts, he maintained.

Furthermore, Jamir informed the audience that the Nagaland government is working towards enacting rules based on the existing Act.

The workshop featured other speakers, including Babita Saikia, Legal Consultant and State Coordinator (Child Protection) for Bachpan Bachao Andolan Assam; Renchumi Imti, Programme Manager of Mission Vatslaya Nagaland; and Gracy Ayee, State Mission Coordinator for Mission Shakti Nagaland. Aying Wangsa, member of NSCPCR, delivered the opening remarks.