28-06-2025
Kerala intensifies efforts to eliminate child labour by next year: Min
Thiruvananthapuram: The women & child development department is taking strong measures to make
Kerala
a child labour-free state, said minister Veena George.
As part of 'Saranabalyam' project, implemented to identify and rehabilitate kids involved in
child labour
, 704 rescue drives were organised in the last financial year.
Fifty-six children at risk of child labour were identified and rehabilitated, said George.
I
n 2025, a survey was conducted in all districts to identify child labour and child begging, resulting in the identification of 140 hotspots. Efforts are being intensified in these hotspots, with the cooperation of labour department and police, aiming to completely eliminate child labour by next year, the minister said.
Most hotspots were identified in Ernakulam district (30). Other hotspots include Thiruvananthapuram (12), Kollam (11), Pathanamthitta (6), Alappuzha (10), Kottayam (7), Idukki (13), Thrissur (9), Palakkad (4), Malappuram (9), Kozhikode (4), Wayanad (8), Kannur (10) and Kasaragod (7). Hotspots were found in areas such as festival sites, companies and plantations, with activities focused on these locations.
The Saranabalyam project is linked with 'Kaval Plus' programme to provide long-term services and rehabilitate children. Rescued children are brought before the child welfare committee (CWC); those from other states are sent back to their respective state's CWC.
