Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation takes firm stand against child labour

DIMAPUR — The Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation (ENWO) has reaffirmed its stance against child labour following recent incidents of physical abuse inflicted upon children from the region.

The ENWO had first taken the stand at its executive meeting on child labour in March 2021.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the apex women body of the eastern region stated that parents from the region often send their children away from home (to other families) in the hope of getting their children a better education, but many never have the opportunity to attend school for years on end, and several of them are kept as domestic helpers under the guise of education.

These children, who are below the legal working age, are compelled to work day and night in an exploitative environment outside their family homes as domestic servants. They remain hidden from public view and labour inspection, making them vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and mistreatment, said the organisation.

While informing parents that no child should be sent for domestic help except for educational purposes in accordance with ENWO guidelines, it also asked the public not to keep any “eastern Naga children” as domestic helpers in their homes.

In this context, the ENWO directed all eastern federating units and village councils to strictly adhere to its guidelines. To protect children from child labour, exploitation, and violence, it also directed parents not to send their children to other families outside the village without the consent of the village council.

“The tribal unit of the respective area must be informed, and registration with the parents and the family where the child is intended to stay is mandatory,” it said.

The ENWO also made it clear that any individual or family found harbouring children from eastern Nagaland without proper registration will face legal action under the Child Labour Act.

“In the unfortunate event of a child being abused by the homeowner in any manner, ENWO is committed to taking strong action against the offender, in addition to pursuing legal remedies,” it cautioned.

Additionally, the ENWO also underscored that the Indian Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act 1986, amended in 2016, defines a ‘child’ as any person below the age of 14 and explicitly prohibits the employment of a child in any capacity, including domestic help.

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