Mandya: Deputy Commissioner Kumara has stressed the urgent need to identify children engaged in child and adolescent labour, and ensure their compulsory education. During the District Level Executive Committee and Task Force meeting on the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, along with the 2017 Rules, he directed officials to take strict and coordinated action across the district.
Emphasising prevention, Kumara instructed education and labour department officials to visit schools and track children with frequent absenteeism by interacting with parents. He also ordered enforcement measures to identify children below 14 years working in garages, hotels and factories, and to initiate legal action against violators.
Reviewing progress from April 2025 to March 2026, he noted that 951 inspections were conducted, leading to the identification of 40 adolescent labourers. Of these, 14 cases resulted in FIRs, while 26 cases were filed in the JMFC court. He highlighted the need for rehabilitation through counselling, access to quality education and vocational skill training for rescued adolescents. Kumara further directed officials to organise awareness programmes at the taluk level to address the issue effectively.
Anand M, senior civil judge and member secretary of District Legal Services Authority, emphasised that task force meetings should be held quarterly at both district and taluk levels. He also called for sustained awareness campaigns on child labour and child marriage. During 2025-26, awareness efforts included nine street plays, distribution of leaflets, wall writings and programmes in six gram panchayats.
