7 February 2008, New Delhi – Under the India Action Week against trafficking of children for forced labour, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) conducted third raid in Delhi along with the labour department and police and rescued 58 bonded child labourers.
Mirza (name changed) was brought to Delhi by a person whom he had often seen coming to village and would take some children with him in a bus. He didn't realize that one day he would also be going with this man and end up in Delhi. He along with 57 others were rescued from Khumara Mohalla, Old North Ghonda in the New Usmanpura police station premises. He also told to the activists that the trafficker gave his father Rs 700 and his father agreed to send Mirza to Delhi. Mirza used to work from 10 AM to 1:00 AM in the night and was given Rs 20 / week and this money was added to the 'expenses' incurred by the employer on the children.
The room in which they were working was just in the middle of cattle shed, so that nobody could know that there was a manufacturing unit. In one room there were 10 people working including adults and children. Their working area and sleeping area was the same, with no source of ventilation, the smell of cattle dung all around and filthy rooms. Most of the children hadn't even had a bath for days, they had a dry itchy skin and some were also showing the signs of bacterial infections on their tender skins
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Shri L. R. Meena said that this raid was conducted on the basis of the complaint filed by BBA. The case is registered under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 and Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976. Assistant Labour Commissioner Shri M. S Yadav told that case will also be filled on the owner of the house in which these illegal manufacturing units were running.
The rescued children were trafficked from Sitamarhi and Dharbhanga district and these are the core area where traffickers are taking advantage of the poor condition of the parents and bringing children said Rakesh Senger, National Secretary of BBA,. He also said that BBA would write to the Police Commissioners of Sitamarhi and Dharbhanga districts to take action on this issue.
Prof. R. S Chaurasia, Chairperson BBA who led this raid said that in Indian Action week BBA team was able to rescue over 500 bonded child labourers from different states within seven days-over 130 children were rescued from Delhi alone. |
