19th August, 2009 New Delhi- Acting on the historic judgment given by Delhi High Court on a petition filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), 94 bonded child labourers were rescued by BBA with the help of Sub Divisional Magistrate, labour department and Delhi Police from Bindi and Zari factories from Usmanpur area of North East Delhi. All of them were of age group 7-14 years old. They were trafficked from Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and Araria district of Bihar with a promise of better future. The raid have been conducted in collaboration with National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA).

Atif (name changed) 7 year old is the youngest child working in the Bindi industry. He had skin allergies all over his face, hands and legs. On asking he informed the BBA activist that “we never used to get chance to take bath as we used to get up and start working.”  He has been working in the unit for 6 months, 16 hours a day and has never been paid a penny for his hardship. “The employer promised us to give money sometime” Atif added but when that someday would come none of the children knew this. They never were allowed to go out of the room as their money would be deducted for not working.  

All the children were working in poorly lighted and ventilated rooms in the scorching heat therefore most of the children had blisters and allergies because of the poor and unhygienic working conditions. In one small room the children were stuffed to work, eat, drink and sleep in same area.

Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, founder BBA who has also led the raid and rescue operation said that” this raid is litmus test to Delhi Government as it is the first rescue operation after the landmark judgment of Delhi High Court with the specific directions to lodge cases against employer under criminal procedures code and to recover Rs 20,000 for each child labourer from the employer immediately”.

The Sub Divisional Magistrate, Mr. A.K.Sharma said “Upon speaking to the children, we realized that they worked from 8AM-12:00PM in the night and never received any wages for their work. We are releasing them under Bonded Labour Law." This entitles them a rehabilitation package of Rs. 20,000, the availing of government schemes like Indira Awas Yojana, housing schemes etc on a priority basis. Most importantly, the children would be enrolled in NCLP schools. 

Mr. Ramesh Gupta , Senior Advocate and President of Bachpan Bachao Andolan said that “ these children would be staying at Mukti Ashram until safe repatriation is ascertain. BBA would also rigorously do follow- up for the action to be taken against employer and work that would be done for the long term rehabilitation."

The raid was conducted after receiving complaints of large scale trafficking from Bihar. Later on the raid was meticulously planned by the National Secretaries of BBA , Mr Rakesh Senger and Bhuwan Ribhu  along with other activists who were also present in the rescue operation.