New Delhi, November 4, 2009. Acting on the Delhi High Court judgement, in a joint raid and rescue operation organized by Sub Divisional Magistrate, Labour Department, Delhi Police and Child rights organization Bachpan Bachao Andolan, 26 trafficked bonded child labourers were rescued from the bindi, Zari  and toys making units of  Khauri Khas in North East Delhi. These children hail from Araria, Motihari and Katihar districts of Bihar.

On this day Bihar Government has also announced an action plan for the rescue and rehabilitation of child labour in Patna in the presence of Mr. Nitish Kumar , Chief Minister of Bihar and Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, founder, Bachpan Bachao Andolan. This state action plan provides comprehensive responsibilities of 11 government departments in rescue and rehabilitation of child labourers. This would also help in the economic and social rehabilitation of all the rescued child labourers.

While talking about the today’s rescue operation, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Seeelampur, Mr. A.K.Sharma, said that all the four buildings were sealed from where all these innocent kids were rescued. A fine of Rs. 20,000 per child was also imposed on the the owners of these factories.   

Saleem, 8 years old is the youngest child rescued. On talking to him BBA activists found out that his family was lured by the trafficker to send Saleem to Delhi. Since then he has been working in the toy making factory “I have not been paid a penny and also made to work from early morning to late night till we are able to complete the order. We are given two meals a day but we are beaten for very small things like extending our time for sleep or not doing our job properly”.  All the rescued children have the same story as Saleem..

Mr Bhuwan Ribhu , National Secretary of BBA said that “ this is first time that according to Delhi High court orders SDM has sealed  4 building this would  give a very strong message to the employers employing young children like Saleem and would stop doing this heinous crime"