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It has been reported that 68 children are working as child laborers in Malikarjun Rural Municipality. This statistic was revealed when the Women and Children Department of Malikarjun Rural Municipality conducted surveys across all eight wards of the rural municipality. According to Aarati Sharma, Chief of the Women and Children Department of Malikarjun Rural Municipality, there are 68 child laborers in the rural municipality. She stated that there are 28 child laborers in Ward No. 8, 24 in Ward No. 4, 12 in Ward No. 7, three in Ward No. 1, and one in Ward No. 5. Statistics have been collected as part of the plan to make the rural municipality free from child labor. Sharma stated that these statistics highlight how children are deprived of basic services due to child labor.

Kalyansingh Dhami, the Vice Chairperson of the Rural Municipality, stated that the rural municipality is prepared to take action to improve children’s lives by collecting data on them to ensure they are not deprived of their constitutional rights.

Vice Chairperson Dhami stated that each year, they have been providing support to conflict victims, helpless children, and children from the Dalit community through scholarships and notebooks. He added that they have initiated efforts to identify child laborers. He mentioned that it is reported that many of these children have gone to work in India. To address this issue, there are plans to coordinate with their parents and facilitate their return from India.

According to Sharma, Chief of the Women and Children Department, despite the legal provision prohibiting children from being employed in hazardous work, the statistics remain high because many children go to work alongside their parents. District Bar Association member and advocate Dhirendrasingh Saud stated that the local government is responsible for the protection of children and emphasized that the work initiated by the rural municipality should be viewed positively. He noted that the statistics presented are from the first phase of the initiative. Saud added that the campaign to eliminate child labor should be made effective by providing legal awareness to both parents and children.

According to the Chief of the Women and Children Department Sharma, 37 of the children in child labor are working in different parts of India. She informed me that other children are engaged in different jobs within the rural municipality. Education Branch Chief Lokendrasih Dhami stated that the children involved in child labor have already dropped out of school. The statistics indicate that children between the ages of 14 and 17 are engaged in various forms of work.

It has been found that children in child labor are forced to work in rural municipalities and India alongside their parents due to poor financial conditions. Hirasingh Dhami, Chairperson of the Rural Municipality, stated that the municipality is planning to identify these children and free them from child labor. Currently, the Women’s and Children’s Department has begun collecting data and providing orientation to parents. He emphasized that increasing parental awareness will make it easier for children to return to school.

Article 39 of the Constitution of Nepal provides for the rights of children. Sub-article (2) of Article 39 states that every child shall have the right to education, health, maintenance, proper care, sports, entertainment, and overall personality development from the families and the State. Sub-article (4) states, that no child shall be employed to work in any factory, mine or engaged in similar other hazardous work. Lastly, Sub-article (9) states that the child who is a helpless, orphan, with disabilities, conflict victim, displaced or vulnerable shall have the right to special protection and facilities from the State.

Narendra Singh Karki