80 child labourers rescued in capital
25 May 2012 8:29 AM GMT
As many as 80 child labourers, allegedly trafficked from Bihar and Nepal, were rescued on Thursday from garment and leather factories in central Delhi.
Seven employers and traffickers were arrested from Paharganj area following raids in garment and leather factories in Navi Kareem, Tel Mill Gali, Paharganj by Delhi Task Force on Raid, Rescue and Rehabilitation of Child Labourers and child rights activists. The rescue operation was led by sub-divisional magistrate who was accompanied by police, members from Labour Department and Child Welfare Committee and activists from Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and Child Line.
The children were trafficked through local agents from the villages of Bihar and Nepal and had been working in the factories for over six months. They were involved in stitching, cutting, dyeing and tanning of garments and leather.
'Most children are below 14 years of age. The youngest one is 7 years old. They used to work from 10 in the morning till 12 in the night for a meager amount of Rs 50- 100 as weekly wages,' a statement issued by BBA said.
Vikas, 12-year-old (name changed), rescued in the raid, said, 'I don't like to work. I have serious health problems and sometimes my employer would make me work from 8 am till 2 in the night.'
Another 8-year-old Raju (name changed) was found working in a pitiable condition with a broken leg. 'I belong to Sitamarhi in Bihar and I was brought here by a man in our village who gave money to my parents to bring me here,' said Raju.
R S Chaurasia, chairperson of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, said, 'Such comprehensive action through the consolidated efforts of both civil societies and government law enforcement agencies is the way forward towards eliminating child labour and child trafficking.'
Seven employers and traffickers were arrested from Paharganj area following raids in garment and leather factories in Navi Kareem, Tel Mill Gali, Paharganj by Delhi Task Force on Raid, Rescue and Rehabilitation of Child Labourers and child rights activists. The rescue operation was led by sub-divisional magistrate who was accompanied by police, members from Labour Department and Child Welfare Committee and activists from Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and Child Line.
The children were trafficked through local agents from the villages of Bihar and Nepal and had been working in the factories for over six months. They were involved in stitching, cutting, dyeing and tanning of garments and leather.
'Most children are below 14 years of age. The youngest one is 7 years old. They used to work from 10 in the morning till 12 in the night for a meager amount of Rs 50- 100 as weekly wages,' a statement issued by BBA said.
Vikas, 12-year-old (name changed), rescued in the raid, said, 'I don't like to work. I have serious health problems and sometimes my employer would make me work from 8 am till 2 in the night.'
Another 8-year-old Raju (name changed) was found working in a pitiable condition with a broken leg. 'I belong to Sitamarhi in Bihar and I was brought here by a man in our village who gave money to my parents to bring me here,' said Raju.
R S Chaurasia, chairperson of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, said, 'Such comprehensive action through the consolidated efforts of both civil societies and government law enforcement agencies is the way forward towards eliminating child labour and child trafficking.'
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