New Delhi 17th September 2009- In yet another nail-biting raid, 34 bonded child labourers were rescued from toy manufacturing units of Shahjahanbad Industrial Area of Sarai Rohilla in Delhi by a tip which was provided by Bachpan Bachao Andolan.  Children as young as 7 years were found working in slave-like conditions. After 3 hours of struggle, the rescue team comprising Labour officers, Police officials, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) activists, liberated the children who were hidden in rucksacks by their employers.

Children, mostly belonging to age bracket of 7-14 years were trafficked from Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.  Chintu (7), Rahim (8) (names changed) are from the same village and were trafficked to Delhi by the same person. “We were brought to Delhi with a promise of better future but we were made to work in factory for 12-14 hours a day and given only 50-100 Rs. per week.   Today, our employer got to know about the raid and he tied us in the rucksacks, locked us in the room. They put luggage and clothes on us so that no one could find us. We were suffocated and scarred. It was only after we cried aloud that people heard us and came for our rescue. Employer said that if the police found us, we will be jailed. But now we know he lied to us. We are not scared anymore, we are happy that we are rescued and can go home”.

Rakesh Senger, National Secretary BBA said that, “It was one of the most difficult places to conduct rescue operation. All roads were blocked.  We had to run from one roof to other to follow the children and their employers. We found children stuffed in gunny bags and rucksacks, crying. One child had suffocated inside the rucksack when we found him. These employers are inhuman and they should be jailed.”

Mr. Vijay Bhardwaj, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Sadar, said, “The custody of the children has been given to Bachpan  Bachao Andolan. All the rescued children will be given release certificates under the Bonded Labour Act. The release certificate entitles them to their rehabilitation package of Rs. 20,000, as well as availing government schemes like Indira Awas Yojana and housing schemes on a priority basis. But most importantly the children will be enrolled in NCLP School”.