Kids offered Rs 50/day to work in factory units

Owners stopping children on way to school to offer them 'jobs'

Factory owners working on Hambaran road and Kitchlu Nagar are alluring children to work in their factories for daily wages rather than going to schools. This revelation came out from National Child Labour Programme (NCLP) school located at Kitchlu Nagar. Newsline has come to know that a number of children enrolled in NCLP regularly miss classes. Teachers of the school have alleged that the children are stopped on their way to school by factory owners and asked to work instead of going to school.

Project director of NCLP schools (Inner Wheel Club), Alka Gupta said: "There is one shawl-making unit and one chocolate-making unit near our school and a number of times, the owners of both units stop our children. They don't even realise that they are carrying school bags. The factory owners give them Rs 50 a day to work for 5-6 hours instead of studying and even the parents also feel good when their kids bring home Rs 50."

"A number of times, I visited these factories and have brought the kids back. It is really shocking that the owners are forcing the kids to work instead of studying," she added.

A total of 150 students, aged 8 to 15, are studying in the Kitchlu Nagar NCLP school. Most of the children had been working as rag pickers or were at tea stalls and street food vendors before coming to NCLP. The president of the Inner Wheel Club, Meera Bajwa said: "We convinced the students and their families to study instead of working on roadside rehris and doing other menial jobs."

The students study in Government school Kitchlu Nagar building where classes start at 2 pm, while the salary of teachers is paid by the government. "Only yesterday, the club provided the students with school uniform and shoes," said Bajwa.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Chemist shops closed, patients bear the brunt

Woman killed 4-yr-old daughter, body recovered from her room

MC team seals Hotel Batra, J Sons on Ferozepur road

3 fire incidents keep understaffed fire department on toes