8 December 2009, In the narrow alleys of LNJP Colony, dozens of children make ornaments of shellac, most of which are for export. On Tuesday, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Labour Department, Delhi Police on a tip by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) rescued more than 50 children. The most horrifying aspect has been the age of more than 35 children, falling in the age bracket of 8 to 11 years. Some of them had been working there for 2 years meaning they started working at a tender age of 6. All the children were trafficked from Katihar (Bihar) on the lure of money and good education. Working on a meager salary of Rs. 25-50 every week, of which they had to pay for their breakfast as well, the work involved making ornate bangles, necklaces, decorating diary covers, jewellery boxes etc.

Like always, as soon as word got out about the raid, the children vanished from the spot. Their bags were hanging from hooks and clothes strewn all over. Bangle moulds, shellac paste and other raw material reveal the number of people working and how many among them are children and the work they did. There have been instances where the children were locked inside rooms as soon as the employers saw people coming to ‘get them out’ and doors had to be forced open to rescue them. Dark, slippery narrow staircases and rooms cropping up from nooks where there was no place to put even a few steps was the norm in the locality. An estimated 500-1000 children work in the area, but the condition of the lanes and the sheer haphazardness in the area make it a difficult place to conduct a raid.

Shri N.K Sharma, SDM Daryaganj said “the children have been rescued under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. They will receive release certificates that would entitle them to an economic rehabilitation package of Rs 20,000 along with getting the Government schemes on priority basis. They will be repatriated to their native districts at the earliest. Bihar State Action Plan made by the Government of Bihar will ensure their successful rehabilitation and education.

Shri R.S.Chaurasia, Chairperson, BBA said “BBA has rescued and rehabilitated more than 900 child bonded labourers from Delhi in the last one year. The recent Delhi High Court judgment given on a Public Interest Litigation filed by BBA ensured the convergence of all agencies in this raid. The custody of the children has been given to Mukti Ashram, BBA’s short stay home in Burari, Delhi on the direction of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).”

Shri R. Dhar, Deputy Labour Commissioner, (Central), said “This rescue operation was conducted upon the complaint of BBA regarding young children working in shellac industry."