The Child Development Society (CDS), in coordination with the Kathmandu Child Labor Office and Centre for Child Welfare Board (CCWB), sent the children to their respective districts to repatriate them with their families. [break]
"The officials sent 15 children to Sarlahi and one to Sitamadhi of the Indian state of Bihar to reunite with their families," said Bharat Thapa, CDS officer who was accompanying the children. Earlier, one child was handed over to his parents at Thankot.
Similarly, 10 children of Mohattari district have also been sent home on the day. Remaining 12 children would be sent on Wednesday, added Thapa.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has refused to take the responsibility of four children of Sitamadhi, Bihar, who were rescued from Thankot, said Yobaraj Roka, program coordinator at CDS.
“As the embassy refused to shoulder the responsibility, we will go along with the children,” he mentioned.
Similarly, CCWB has sent a letter to Labour Office, Bagmati to file case against 13 employers who had engaged children at work.
Responding to the letter, the office has begun taking statements of the factory owners from Tuesday. Section Officer Gambhir Singh Bista said that 11 of them came to his office to register their statement.
The office said it would fine the employers.
A few months back, the factory owners of Bhaktapur were fined only Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000 after 127 children were rescued from embroidery factory there.
Bista added that the factory owners themselves are the labors who take orders from the Sari showrooms and boutiques in the Valley.
“The embroidery factory owners provide some amount from what they themselves receive from commercial shops,” added Bista. Likewise, the office is yet to determine the risks for children laboring in such place.
The Labor Act has the provision to sentence one year jail term and fine Rs 50,000 or both to those who engage child labor.
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