The Department of Labour Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh is conducting a drive against child-labour.
As part of the drive, inspections were being conducting by specially-formed teams to rescue and rehabilitate child-beggars across the State from January 26.
“This will go on up to February 15, and rehabilitation measures are currently on,” B. Ramanjaneyulu, Commissioner for Labour, Andhra Pradesh, told newspersons here on Wednesday.
From February 16 to March 31, another drive would focus on rescuing child-labourers working in business establishments including hotels, dhabas, brick-making units and mines, he said.
“According to estimates, there are about 18,000 child-labourers working in different sectors. All those who found employing them will be prosecuted,’’ the Commissioner said.
Though efforts were on to recognise persons below 18 years as child labourers by the International Labour Organisation, as on now only those who are below 14 years of age are treated as child-workers. The punishment for those prosecuted under the Prevention of Child Labour Act, 1986, is imprisonment from three months to one year besides penalty of Rs 10,000-20,000.
A State-level monitoring committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary was set up to over see prevention of child-labour and rehabilitation issues, Ramanjeneyulu said.
As part of rehabilitation measures, rescued children in the age-group of 6-8 years will be sent to regular schools for studies while vocational training will be given to those who are of 9-14 years.
Complaints or information on child-labour could be made to a dedicated helpline at 040-27607366.