Hemraj, traveled all the way from Nepal with the hope that his missing sisters for 2 years would be found, but it was not to be.

A series of rescue operations followed after several months undercover investigation by Bachpan Bachao Andolan(BBA) of trafficking of girls through placement agencies in New Delhi on 13th January 2009. During the rescue operation, joined by Delhi Commission for Women, several placement agencies seemingly operational to provide domestic helps, were raided   and 35 girls and 3 boys were rescued. However during the raid, , Delhi Commission for Women , activists and Delhi Police saw a lot of objectionable material including pornographic CDs’, literature, pregnancy test kits and contraceptives , raising doubts about the real purpose behind running of these placement agencies.

Moreover, it became clear that the recent ban on domestic child labour is been flaunted behind every nook and corner in the city with all these minors being rescued.

11 years old Pooja (name changed to protect identity) recounted the horror of not being given any food for days, working in the cold without warm clothes and without money.
13 years old Kamla (name changed to protect identity) was trafficked from Nepal with a promise to pursue the dreams of studying and made to work in Kothi for 12 to 14 hours a day and being beaten up for simple mistakes.

Barkha Singh, Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women aghast at the deplorable living and working conditions of these girls. She said that the girls were found to be trafficked and forced to work. They were not allowed to call their parents and also were not given any money. All their salaries were given to the placement agency.

Kailash Satyarthi, globally renowned child rights activist, who has led the rescue operation, said that there are 2300 illegal placement agencies in the capital only. They can not function without the support of higher ups and appealed to the government that there should be an immediate crackdown on the placement agencies.

Ajay Thapa , running the placement agency , from where Hemraj ‘s sister are missing , has been arrested and hopefully Hemaraj will be reunited with his sisters soon.

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