Officials employing child labourers for Gandikota works

Jammalamadugu (Kadapa): Children aged below 14 years were employed in the works related to Gandikota project at Kondapur mandal falling within the limits of Jammalamadugu constituency in the district. Officials associated with the project are violating the law that prohibits child labour. It is widely known that the works related to Gandikota project are in full swing. Every day, 20,000 cusecs of water has to reach the Gandikota project through the Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanti flood canal. For this, 5.36 km long tunnel was being dug at Lingapuram near Mylavaram mandal. Digging a tunnel is a highly dangerous work and it should be handled by highly skilled and experienced persons. However, to cut costs, officials of the project were bringing in children aged below 14 years and employing them as workers in the tunnel works. Moreover, they are also being made to drive vehicles. When a reporter from The Hans India, who saw a small boy driving a vehicle, tried to get in touch with the project manager of the Gandikota project for an explanation, the manager refused to meet him. He was also reluctant to divulge any details regarding child labour. According to sources, it is common practice here to employ children in major projects, thus destroying their school life and future. The government officials should take immediate steps and liberate the child workers from the Gandikota project, activists concerned said.