MARGAO
The rape of a minor girl at a construction site in Canacona has thrown up questions on rules or schemes in place to ensure the safety and well being of children of migrant workers hired by labour contractors to work on construction sites in the state.
While children’s rights activists cried foul over the utter neglect of minor children belonging to the migrant workers, Labour Minister Rohan Khaunte conceded that many a scheme meant for children of migrant construction workers have remained only on paper, adding that his government has plans to give effect to the rules and schemes by bringing necessary amendments.
In fact, Khaunte told The Goan that the government is in the process of bringing in amendments to to the existing rules and schemes so that the benefits percolate down to the beneficiaries.
“As far as the criminal case of rape of the six-year-old minor girl is concerned, it falls in the domain of the police, who were quick to nab the three accused. On issues such as education of the children of the migrant chidren, there’s a central law in place. My government will give effect to these schemes by enacting rules and by bringing about certain amendments,” Khaunte said, adding that he is of the firm view that children of these migrant workers cannot be denied benefits, including
education.
