Child labour rampant in far-west

Bajura, October 16

Cases of child labour have increased in urban areas of the far-western region even though the law has forbidden the use of children below of the age of 14 in work.

Many young children are working in hotels and shops in Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar, Attaraiya, Dipayal, Dadeldhura and Matradi, among other cities of the region. According to civil society members, children have been used even in places where there is a visible presence of the local administration. They blamed the situation on lack of monitoring by regulatory bodies.

Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations, Bajura, Chairman Kashi BK said the situation of child labour had not changed much even though there were a number of government and non-government organisations working in the sector.

Chief of Woman and Children Office, Kailali, Pooja Kafle said though the district lacked accurate data on child labour, it was a fact that child labour was on the rise. She said the government agencies were not doing enough to stop rising child labour cases in the district.

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