MCDS enrols children in its transit schools under NCLP.
Bhanumathy (10) is seen selling books, cleaning wall hangings and other items every other day at different signals. Her brother Manickam, (12) works at a welding factory at Mylapore. Bhanu and Manickam are not alone; there are hundreds of them who toil in factories, on the beach, in brick kilns, etc. all over the city. Though there is a child labour law stating that children aged below 14 should not be employed, one can see them doing domestic chores or working as cleaners in hotels and malls.
Many rallies, demonstrations and awareness programmes have been organised to spread the message. Nobody is worried about the child labourers or follow the rules formulated by the 25-year-old Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, except for some NGOs, which do their best to identify the deprived and provide education.
Originally written for The Hindu, read more at https://www.thehindu.com/features/downtown/helping-to-restore-childhood/article3428635.ece