Child labour at Numaish!

The Exhibition Society, which claims to run 18 educational institutions from the annual income generated by Numaish every year and promises to educated poor children’s, is itself engaging in child labour

The State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights issued a notice to the Commissioner of Labour T Anjaiah Bhavan and the secretary of All India Industrial Exhibition for violating child rights stating that the exhibition society and owner of the stalls are illegally employing a number of children in hazardous occupations.

The notice was issued following a complaint lodged by ex-corporator Amjed Ullah. Amjed said, “I saw several children, including girls, below 14 years of age, working at various stalls at Numaish. What was astonishing was seeing girls attired in school uniforms working till midnight at different stalls. Besides carrying heavy goods, the children were also being engaged in cleaning and maintenance of toilets.”

“It is a crime that the exhibition society, which claims to run 18 educational institutions from the annual income generated by Numaish every year and promises to educated poor children’s, is itself engaging in child labour. The labour department has turned a blind eye despite the matter being reported by the print and electronic media,” vexes Amjed. The Child Rights Commission has issued directions to the Commissioner of Labour and Secretary of All India Industrial Exhibition to enquire into the matter, initiate necessary action and submit a report on January 27 by 11am.