SRIKAKULAM: On Monday night, the anti-human trafficking officials rescued 10 girl child labourers from two brokers at Srikakulam RTC Bus Complex. The arrested brokers—one from Srikakulam and another from Prakasam— were shifting the minor girls, all in the age group of 12 to 15 years, to Prakasam district for engaging them as daily wagers.The investigation revealed that all these girls were from tribal areas such as Bhamini, Meliaputti and Saravakota in Srikakulam district and abject poverty had forced their parents to send them to far-way places so that they would contribute to the survival of their families. Thousands of minors migrate to other cities and towns every year, making the district a hub for migrant labourers.
Another such incident also came to light recently. A family from Etcherla mandal, even after losing their one son who migrated to Gujarat in search of green pastures, but drowned in the sea two years ago, chose to send their second son as a migrant labourer. Statistics available with the District Childline officials shows a disturbing trend. According to district child protection officer KV Ramana, 72 child labourers from fishermen villages in Etcherla and Srikakulam mandals have migrated to Gujarat, Mumbai and other areas on deep-sea venturing assignments. Further, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) officials, in association with anti-human trafficking unit, conducted a drive in July earlier and rescued 376 child labourers in just 30 days.
“As many as 2,487 child labourers have been rescued from the district since 2011 and around 700 child marriages have been thwarted so far,” says district child line coordinator Majji Simhachalam.
The National Child Labour Project (NCLP) authorities have decided to conduct a survey across the district to make a database of the child labourers and assess their socio-economic conditions.
For this, the NCLP has signed an MoU with the BR Ambedkar University (BRAU) to identify all the child labourers in the district.
“The project will focus on urban slums, rural and tribal pockets. Students of the Social Work Department of BRAU will be roped in for the survey,” says National Child Labour Project director Trinath Rao.
One team comprising four students will be deployed in 38 mandals each.
Disturbing trend
2,487
Child labourers rescued since 2011
700
Child marriages thwarted
72: Children from fishermen villages migrated to Gujarat and Mumbai on sea venturing assignments
376
Minors rescued in a month