Annual Report 1999-2000 Government on the methodology required for the identification, release and rehabilitation ofbonded labour in Karnataka. It was pointed out to the State Governments that other than assistance being provided under the centrally sponsored schemes for rehabilitation ofreleased bonded labourers, assistance could also be considered under the Poverty Alleviation Programmes like the Indira Awas Yojana, Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana and Sampuma Gramin Swarozgar Yojana. In addition, Collectors and District Magistrates ofsensitive districts were asked to personally oversee the investigation ofcases relating to bonded labour. 7.13 As regards Gujarat, the Commission noted with scepticism the claim of the State Government that there was neither bonded labour nor child labour in that State. The interaction of Justice K. Ramaswamy, member of the Commission, v/itli NGOs working in Gujarat revealed instead, the widespread use of child labour, particularly in the construction of roads and buildings in various municipal areas and also in the shipbreaking and diamond-cutting industries. The Commission accordingly directed its Special Representative in Gujarat, Shri P.G.J. Nampoothiri, to organize meetings of District Collectors in the affected areas, in consultation wtli the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary, Labour, Government of Gujarat, to discuss all aspects of this matter and to initiate appropriate remedial action. The Commission intends to pursue this matter. PREVENTING EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN BY GOVERNMENT SERVANTS: AMENDMENT OF SERVICE RULES 7.14 The All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, have been amended by the Central Government to prohibit tlie employment of children below the age of 14 years as domestic servants by Government servants employed in the All India Services, namely the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and the Indian Forest Service. This has been done upon the recommendation and insistence of the NHRC. 7.15 The Commission had observed that employing children below and up to the age of 14 years for work by anyone was reprehensible, more so by any Government servant. It had thus urged that an appropriate change be made in the Conduct Rules of the Government Servants by both the Centre and States, which, while prohibiting such employment, would also make it a misconduct, inviting a major penalty. The Commission had been pursuing this matter with the Centre and the States since Fehruary 1997. The then Chairperson of the Commission had written to the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances 8c Pension on this subject for the fu-st time on 10 February 1997. He had subsequently written to the Chief Ministers of all States on 3 March 1997. On 13 December 1999, the present Chairperson, Justice J.S. Verma, wrote a further letter to the Chief Ministers of all the States that had not^amended their Service Conduct Rules 62