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BBA activist with Manoj Diwedi (SDM of Saraswati Vihar) at employer's house. |
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SDM seeking more details from the rescued child |
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Father of Bindeshwar couldn't stop his tears after seeing his son after 2 years |
New Delhi, 04th October 2007. A deplorable case of a child who had been kept as a bonded labourer came to light when the activists of Bachpan Bachao Andolan rescued 13 yrs. old Bindeshwar from I 83-B, Rohini sector – 18 , New Delhi. The activists of BBA in Bihar received a complaint from the father of the child, Shri Jagat Mandal of Maghepur block of Madhubani district. He informed them that Shivakant Jha of his village had taken an amount of Rs.26000/- from him in exchange for 20 beeghas of land. However, even after Jagat Mandal worked hard by pulling a rickshaw and paid the amount of Rs.26000/- in installments to Shivakant Jha, Jha refused to hand over the land to him. Instead Jha had already given the same land to Laleshwar Singh and asked Jagat Mandal to pay more money if he wants the land. He also demanded to keep his son, Bindeshwar as a bonded domestic labour till the time that he receives the money in full. Shivakant Jha kept Bindeshwar in his house for one year and then sent him to his son-in-law, Jitendra Jha's house where he was made to work relentlessly for another year from 6a.m to 12am. Whenever Jagat Mandal tried to take his son back with him he was abused and thrown out by Jha. He was not given any money for the work he did. Whenever, the little boy committed any minor error he was brutally thrashed by Jitendra and his wife. One must also note that Jitendra Jha is a teacher in a Government School and according to the law, if any government official employs a child below 14years of age, he or she will be suspended from their job.
Today,in a joint effort, activists of BBA, SDM of Saraswati Vihar, Mr. Manoj Diwedi, police personnel and labour department officials rescued the child. The rescue team was led by BBA National Secretary Mr. Rakesh Sengar, Mr. Rakesh Sharma, Mr. Sukhdev Dixit and Mr. Devikant Singh. Mr. Jagat Mandal, Bindeshwar's father was also present with the BBA activists and was given the custody of his son. On meeting his son after the rescue, the father became teary eyed.
BBA National secretary Mr. Sengar remarked that the case comes under the purview of the Bonded Labour Systems (Abolition) Act, 1976. He also stressed that strict action must be taken against all Government employees who use children as Domestic labour, especially in bonded conditions.
The case has been filed under the Bonded Labour Systems (Abolition) Act of 1976 which makes the child eligible for a compensation of Rs.20000 as a Rehabilitation measure. The SDM has issued orders to provide the Child with a Release Certificate which he shall receive tomorrow. A case has been filed against Jitendra Jha . |
