New Delhi, 3rd May, 2010

Baba Bakery, a leading exporter of Indian bakery products to USA, Canada and Gulf countries might have brought huge accolades for the Indian producers but in its own nation, owner Mr. Rajesh Lamba owner of world renowned Baba Bakery has been found guilty of exploiting child labour in his manufacturing units.  Delhi Government’s Task Force on Elimination of Child Labour, local Police and Labour Department rescued 16 children from one of its manufacturing units in Rohini on a complaint filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA).

The children, falling between the age bracket of 9-14 years and mostly belonging to Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, used to work in temperatures as high as 105 degrees which are important to increase the activity of yeast for the formation of bread. The huge, open ovens also affected their skin leading to minor burns and dermatological ailments. At the time of rescue, half of the children were found to be working without gloves and masks to protect them from direct heat. The rest who were involved in the packing process complained that they sat in the same posture for more than 14 hours a day sealing breads and rusks in snazzy packets. It is also pertinent to mention here that eggs were being used for the production of eggless products.

Deepak (name changed to protect identity), the youngest child rescued said, “Because of the dense smoke in the factory, my eyes became sore. When things started getting worse, I was told to help in packing. I had to sit on the ground for more than 8 hours at a stretch to earn 20 Rs a week”.

Chairperson, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Mr. R.S Chaurasia who led the raid said, “There were around 70 children working in this factory but all of them escaped as the information about the raid spread. Even the elders who are working here do not receive minimum wages set by the Government. If this is the situation in reputed factories, one can only imagine the plight in local production units”.

SDM Kanjhawala, Mr. Ajay Kumar said, “These children were working in despicable conditions braving extremely high temperatures from 4 in the morning till 10 in the evening. We have sealed the factory and booked the employer under Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 and other legal provisions. All the rescued children will receive release certificates which would entitle them to the rehabilitation sum of 20,000.”