101 child labourers found in city this year: BMC

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the labour department have recorded the number of child labourers in the city as 101.

The authorities raided 3,022 establishments this year to figure out the number. Last year, however, the number stood at 147 after a raid in 5,284 establishments.

The BMC penalised the establishments where the children were found working and collected Rs45,000 from them as fine. At least 71 establishments have been prosecuted.

“As per section 32 of the Mumbai Establishment Act 1948, no establishment or organisation can appoint a child as a labourer. BMC’s licence superintendent has the right to take action against such establishments,” said municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak. The state government had formed a special squad under the district collector and labour commissioner to find out the establishments which are employing children under 18. The BMC’s licence department helps the squad to find out such child labourers.

“The children have been sent to children’s home,” said Phatak.