Labour Department and National Child Labour Project (NCLP) officials on Monday conducted age determination tests on three children who were rescued from a restaurant in the district a couple of days ago. Officials, along with the Revenue department staff, had raided Sri Sai Durga Restaurant on Saturday and rescued a girl and three boys, who were engaged for work.
Krishna district Deputy Commissioner of Labour (DCL) N. Suryanarayana said the Labour Department officials would file a charge sheet before the court with necessary scientific evidence to determine the age of the rescued childrenthem.
“Doctors of the Government General Hospital performed tests and confirmed that one girl and two boys were in the age group of 12 and 13, and another boy was about 15 years. Two children were natives of Erracheruvu village, near Gannavaram and the other two hailed from Gannavaram and Mylavaram in the district,” said Assistant Commissioner of Labour (ACL) D. Anjaneya Reddy. Notices will be served on the restaurant owner directing him to deposit Rs. 20,000 each in the bank in the name of the children. In accordance with the instructions of the Child Welfare Committee, the four children were provided shelter at two NGO homes. “Besides penalty, cases will be filed against the accused in the Third Additional Chief Metropolitan Court. The children were forced to work in hazardous conditions,” the ACL added.
