Following recent incidences in which children from Eastern Nagaland were subjected to physical abuse by the homeowners, the Eastern Nagaland Women Organization (ENWO) in a statement reaffirmed its stand on the March 2021 executive meeting on Child Labour.
ENWO in its letter informed the parents that no child should be sent for domestic help except for educational purpose in accordance with ENWO guidelines. ENWO further informed and warned the owners that no Eastern Naga children should be kept as a domestic helper in their homes. “Parents often sends their kids away from home hoping that they would receive better education, yet many of them never even get to attend their school for years altogether. Several of the Naga children from the eastern tribes are kept as a domestic helper under the guise of educating them,” asserted the ENWO.
Highlighting the Indian Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act 1986 amended in 2016, ENWO pointed out that a “Child” is defined as any person below the age of 14 and the CLPR Act prohibits employment of a child in any employment including domestic help.
ENWO expressed that children work day and night outside their family home as domestic servants who are under the legal age in an exploitative environment. “These children are at risk of being exploited, abused and mistreated because they are hidden from the public view and labour inspection,” stated the ENWO.
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In order to protect children from child labour, exploitation and violence, ENWO has directed all the Eastern federating units and Village councils to strictly adhere to the following guidelines:
- No parents should send their child to other family outside the village without the consent of the village council.
- The tribal unit of that particular place should be informed and get registered by the parents and the family where the child is supposed to stay.
- If any individual or family is found keeping the Eastern Nagaland children without registration, the Organisation will register a case against the defaulter under the Child Labour Act.
- If a child is abused by the homeowner in any manner, the organisation will take strong action against the offender in addition to legal action.
