Baliguda: Mocking at the law, forest officials are reportedly engaging schoolchildren to work in Kendu leaf centres, reports said.
Instead of adult labourers minors are hired to work in risky conditions for petty wages of Rs 60-Rs 70 a day. As daily labourers would charge a minimum of Rs 200 a day, forest officials engage kids and make them work in hazardous conditions and pocket the rest of the money.
Although the government is pumping in crores to end child labour, the engaging of children by officials is a challenge to the law.
Even after repeated complaints the officials are not at all worried as no action has been taken. Almost all, including senior officials, are involved in this fraud and are making huge amounts by engaging children.
An example is the Godhabali-based Kendu leaf under this block in Kandhamal district. Many school kids are processing Kendu leaves here. All the children are students of a local school. As they belong to poor families, they work in Kendu depots to make extra income for the family.
“The little money helps us buy textbooks, notes and bags,” some children said. They are mostly engaged for drying kendu leaves and later storing them at the depot. Even though the temperature is high the children are seen drying the leaves under the sun.
Baliguda forest ranger Umesh Digal said he was unaware of this.
Childline director Rabindra Kumar Panda condemned the officials and assured action after a probe.
“Last year, we had conducted raids at several places and rescued many children. Similarly, we will conduct raids and help the children join the social mainstream by providing them education,” Panda added.
Locals complained that many children were employed in kendu leaf depots and sought the intervention of the administration in this matter.
PNN
