New Delhi ,22nd June 2009

52 bonded child labourers were rescued today by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) from zari sweatshops in the Sarai Kale Khan area in New Delhi.  BBA were helped by the Sub Divisional Magistrate, the Labour Department and the Delhi Police.

All the bonded child labourers were 8-14 years old  and were  trafficked from Bihar , Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh with a  promise of better future.  They had been working in the factories they were rescued from for more than two years. 

Eight year old Firoz ( name changed), the youngest child rescued, said, “one year  back my  chacha (village uncle) gave  Rs 700 to my father and said that your son will study in a madrassa (Muslim school), as well as also assisting with some minor work.  But I was forced to work in the zari industry, and when I complained they threatened me”.  He also informed BBA activists that he was made to work for twelve to thirteen hours daily, and when he failed to give satisfying results he was beaten-up. He said, “we were always locked up in the room so that we could not go out and talk to anyone around, but if we really pleaded then an adult would accompany us”.

Kailash Satyarthi, Founder of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, said that “Children were kept in the most inhuman conditions.  It was incredibly difficult to reach the units as they were built on the sides of the sewer pipes.  The activists had to step on the sewage water to reach the rooms.  There was no ventilation or light source, it was like a jail. The children were working day and night in scorching temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius in closed rooms with no fans. This is the condition of 50,000 children working in the zari industry. The irony is that at least thirty five children are trafficked to Delhi everyday, as per government reports, and hundreds of children go missing every month, which makes Delhi the biggest hub of child trafficking in the country. This multimillion-rupee illicit trade is not possible without the connivance of the police and other authorities”, he alleged.

Mr. Lallan Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Defence Colony, said, “Upon speaking to the children we realized that they worked from 7am to 1pm in the night, and never received any wages for their work. This clearly means that they were bonded labourers, hence they 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 of government schemes like Indira Awas Yojana and housing schemes on a priority basis. But most importantly the children will be enrolled in NCLP School”.

Mr.S.C.Yadav, Deputy Labour Commissioner, said that a case will be filed against the owner of illegal manufacturing units and also they would be fined with Rs 20,000.
Mr. R.S Chaurasia , Chairperson of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, said that getting the release certificate from the SDM will help the bonded child labourers in getting their Rs20,000   rehabilitation package, as well as beneficiaries of the development policy Indira Awas Yojna and enrollement in NCLP schools.