Thursday, September 17, 2015

Round Table Meet on Review of the Child Labour(Prohibition and Regulation ) Bill 2012 by' NILA' on 15-09-2015

Network of International Legal Activists (NILA) in collaboration with NGO 'Save The Children' organized one day workshop to review the 'Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation ) Bill 2012, which has to be placed before Parliament for approval and also create standard operation procedures(SOP) for child labour rescue & rehabilitation in both States of Telangana & Andhra Pradesh. NILA invited  the Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and Telangana State Labour & Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy as Special Invitees to find solutions to the issue of Child Labour. Principal Secretary Labour Department, Harpreet Singh I.A.S;,Labour Commissioner, Nadeem I.A.S; Rahul Bojja, I.A. S, Hyderabad District Collector; Alka Singh from 'Save the Children';  Representatives from different NGOs, Academicians, Lawyers,Law Students and friends of Children from different sectors participated and discussed on the issue.

Dr. Vasantha welcomed the guests. A Video on child Labour in the rural areas was displayed by  'NILA'. Dr. Mamatha Explained the Concept of the Seminar in an appealing presentation. and Alka from 'Save the Children' explained status of Child labour in different states in India and the strategies they adopted to control and rehabilitate the migrated children. Nayani Narsimha Reddy ,Minister, reiterated that Telangana Government is planning to give free education from U G to P G.He said Parents always want their children to be educated, but for poverty.He also said that there is going to be a Meeting in the Secretariat to decide SOP and how to rehabilitate the migrated Children from different states.Even Street children are going to be admitted in schools by the Police department.He stressed that it is a crime to make the children work.
The Union Minister Dattatreyudu assured that a detailed discussion on this issue will be taken up before finally introducing the Amendments in the Bill.He observed that India is a unique country, where there are number of laws, which need to be simplified in order to implement them easily.The rules and norms of the Bill have to be made by the Administrators, who will enable to implement in stricter sense. The present Bill on Child labour , introduces  the definition of 'adolescence' from 14 to 18 years , who should not work in hazardous circumstances.Punishments to the employers are being increased, but the conviction rate is only 20 percent. Parents are going to be given warnings twice and then will be punished for sending their children as labourers.A Rehabitation Fund also is being increased for their welfare.The Minister finally explained  that this Bill is enabling the children   to work and assist in the family enterprises. But they should  not be wage earners.' The word ' Family' has to be defined in the true sense. Finally the Minister stated that the Government is committed to eliminate child labour in the country, for which the People and the NGOs should create awareness among the public.He appreciated the initiative taken by the Organizers of  'NILA' to conduct this Round Table,
 Dr. vasantha Lakshmi  thanked the Participants and the Management of Administrative Staff college India for providing the venue.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

'Network of International Legal Activists'(NILA) inaugurated on 06--08-2015

Network of International Legal Activists, (NILA), the sister Organisation of Tharuni is started working from 6th August 2015 in the city of Hyderabad. The Founder Members are Dr. Mamatha Raghuveer and Dr. Vasantha Lakshmi Ravikumar, of Vasantha Lakshmi Trust.Both are High Court Advocates who worked for two decades on the issues of Women and children. Hon'ble Justice Subhashin Reddy, Lok Ayukta, inaugurated 'NILA'. State Women Commission Chair Person Dr. Thripurana Venkatratnam, Judicial Academy  Director And District Judge Mangari Rajender were kind enough to grace the occasion. NILA started working immediately on the issues of Women and vulnerable children. The Website of 'NILA' was launched on the same day-'www.nilawcr.org'
 
A kidnapped Girl was traced out and rehabilitated with her family immediately with the efforts of 'NILA'. 'NILA' is counselling and advising on the NRI bride cases, who face different problems of domestic violence, ill treatment and sent back to India. 'NILA' is trying to create a net work of Lawyers who support the women and children internationally.It is also working against Child Labour.