Filing a complaint against child labour

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You can complain about any instances of child labour in the following manner:

Telephone Helpline – Call 1098

1098 is a toll-free number and it operates across India. It is operated by Childline India Foundation which works for child rights and child protection. Anyone, including children themselves, can call and give information on this number. You should educate children at schools or children who are working, about this helpline number so that illegal acts of child labour can be prevented.

When you call 1098: Your call will be received by a person who you can give the following information to:

Name of the child (if you know).
Age (You can give an estimate).
Description of the Child.
Address ( You have to specifically give the exact location and any landmarks if you know).

After you call 1098: The person attending your call will give your information to the ground staff at the district where the child is. The ground staff comprises of a social welfare organization and members of the ChildLine India Foundation. They might call you back to find out more details or ask more doubts about the child. They will then make an inquiry and with the combined efforts of the following departments, they will take action:

Labour Department.
Police.
Department of Anti-Human Trafficking.
NGO’s and partner organizations.

Call the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights

You can also call the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Refer here and file a complaint with your particular State’s Commission.

Online Complaint

You can file an online complaint under the Child Labour Section, with the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The most important things that you should fill out are:

Description of the child employed.
State and district where the child is being employed.
Your details- Name, Mobile Number and E-mail ID.

Police Station

When you go to the police station to complain about a case of child labour that you have seen or heard about, they will ask you to file an FIR. You should make sure you give all the information you know about the child labour incident that you have witnessed.

Post

You can make the complaint to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in any language and there are no fees that will be charged on you. You can write to the following address:

Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, 5th Floor, Chanderlok Building, 36, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 001

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Related Resources

Employers Responsibility towards Child Artists

When child artists are being employed for work, there is an obligation on the employer to fill out Form C as given in the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.

Government duties against Child Labour

The Central Government has duties to ensure that child labour does not take place and that the provisions of the law are followed.

Duties of an Inspector to prevent Child Labour

The Government appoints Inspectors to make sure that there is no illegal employment and the permitted employment of adolescents is done as per the law.

Role of Schools in preventing Child Labour

The right to education of a child applies even if the child or adolescent is working as an artist or in the family business. School has an important role in preventing child labour.

Determining age of Child

If you as an employer are unsure if the child is below 14 years or above 14 years of age, then the age of the child will be determined by a medical authority.

Settlement of the crime of Child Labour

The offence of child labour can be compounded.

Filing a Complaint against Child Labour