Authorities in Kohima have moved to strengthen mechanisms for the rescue, rehabilitation and post-rescue management of child labourers, with members of the District Task Force (DTF) on Child Labour undergoing orientation on a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) framed under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
Addressing the programme, Deputy Commissioner and DTF Chairman B. Henok Buchem said protecting children requires coordinated action by all stakeholders. He called for regular quarterly meetings, stronger implementation mechanisms and wider public awareness campaigns on child protection laws and the consequences of child labour.
Assistant Labour Commissioner Neimenuo explained that the SOP provides a child-centric framework for rescue and rehabilitation and is aligned with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Under the procedure, information on child labour may originate from children, relatives, the public, government agencies, NGOs or surveys. Rescue operations can be carried out by authorised personnel, including police officers, labour inspectors, Child Welfare Police Officers and Childline personnel.
Following rescue, children must be produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which assesses their circumstances and determines appropriate rehabilitation measures. FIRs are registered where offences are identified, while rescued children may be placed in temporary shelters or child care institutions. The Labour Department is tasked with initiating legal proceedings against employers, recovering pending wages and compensation, and ensuring prosecution of offenders.
Highlighting recent interventions, representatives of the CWC reported that three cases involving children employed primarily by relatives had been successfully addressed, with the children restored to their biological families after due inquiry. In another case involving alleged physical abuse, a child was placed in an open shelter and a case was registered against the accused, who was reportedly a repeat offender.
Officials also highlighted the Child Helpline 1098, which provides emergency assistance to children in distress, and discussed issues relating to compensation, transportation and rehabilitation support for rescued children.
