Child labour: Rise in rescue eclipsed by poor conviction rate

Bengaluru: The labour authorities in Karnataka rescued as many as 1,968 children from illegal employment in the last three-and-half years but only 79 perpetrators were convicted during the same period, shows government data, raising apprehension among activists that the paltry conviction rate might encourage repeated offence. 

As per the figures from the Karnataka State Child Labour Eradication Project Society, which comes under the Labour Department, a total of 1.88 lakh raids have been conducted between 2016 and 2024 and 2,880 children rescued. 

The majority of these raids -- 1.27 lakh -- were conducted in the last three-and-half years, between 2021 and July 2024, resulting in the rescue of 1,968 children. 

Sources in the Labour Department said that garages and bakeries were the two top sectors that employed children. Several children were also being engaged for domestic work, the sources said, adding that Kalyana Karnataka region had high prevalence of child labour. 

The department has intensified its rescue operations in recent years. "We have undertaken a drive for child labour detection and rehabilitation, and are regularly monitoring the progress of rescued children. There have been 15 district visits by department officers, including the secretary and the labour minister himself," said Principal Secretary (Labour) Mohammed Mohsin, who is under orders of transfer.

Labour Commissioner Dr H N Gopalakrishna credited the increased vigilance to greater inter-departmental coordination. 

"Our priority is to track the rescued children. Through cooperation with various departments such as Women and Child Welfare, Police and Education, we want to ensure the rescued children continue their education. If not, they will be given adequate skill-oriented training," he added.

On the flip side, the conviction rate of those who facilitate child labour remains abysmally low, with only 190 convictions (11%) among the 1,666 violations booked in the last nine years.

"The number of children being rescued may have improved, but it is still symbolic," child rights activist Vasudeva Sharma said. "Secondly, we need specific data on the sectors from where the children have been rescued, the number of boys and girls and their age group.”

Sharma noted the conviction rate of 11% was highly inadequate and the figures don't deter perpetrators from engaging in repeated offence.

According to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, owners employing children can be fined between Rs 20,000 and 50,000, imprisoned for 6 months to 2 years, or both. For a repeat offence, the jail term may extend between 1 and 3 years.

To report child labour cases, readers may call Childline at 1098.