“God will punish you if you make children work in front of fire,” the Minister said after visiting child labourers at puffed rice units here.

He pulled up officials for not identifying child labourers working in these units. “Is it possible for child labourers to work in such unhealthy conditions and for long hours? It is inhumane and unthinkable,” Kumar said. He told puffed rice mill owners’ association to provide safe working conditions and stop burning old tyres. The Minister also spoke to three children Pushpa, Khaleel and Nagma and enquired about the working conditions.

Though puffed rice mill owners’ association president Abdul Jabbar admitted to the lapses, he wanted the government to come up with an alternative solution to end this menace.

Kumar turned down the demand for 24-hour power to the units to prevent pollution citing the prevailing power crisis.

He said a solution to this problem will be found at a meeting to be held at Bangalore on December 10 with Wakf and Minority Development Minister Mumtaz Ali Khan and puffed rice mill owners’ association and the Agriculture Minister. Deputy commissioner Amaranrayana warned owners against engaging child labourers.