DIMAPUR: Kohima District Task Force (DTF) on Child Labour launched the Pan India Rescue and Rehabilitation Campaign 4.0 on August 24 as part of the nationwide initiative of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
As part of the campaign, intensive awareness programmes are being conducted across schools in Kohima district from August 24 to 28, sensitising students and teachers on child labour, child rights, and the importance of education.
As of August 25, the programme has covered Government Middle School (GMS) L. Khel, GMS P. Khel, GMS Merhulietsa, and GMS New Minister’s Hill, reaching students and teachers in four schools. The awareness drive will continue in more schools during the campaign period.
The programme highlighted provisions of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, particularly the prohibition of employment of children below 14 years and adolescents aged 14-18 years in hazardous occupations. Participants were sensitised on penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for employers violating the Act.
Teachers were encouraged to closely monitor attendance and report cases where a child remains absent consecutively for 15 days to the concerned authorities for timely intervention.
Following the awareness campaign, the Kohima DTF will undertake inspections and rescue operations to identify children engaged in prohibited employment and facilitate rehabilitation and follow up action.
The DTF appealed to the public, schools, parents and communities to actively support the campaign and report suspected cases of child labour, with the collective objective of making Kohima a child labour free district.
