Rehabilitation Package of 6 lakh 80 thousand would be given to them

October 23, 2008, New Delhi – 7-8 years of age is the time for all the children to go to school and dream of birds, planes and animals but Sadam and his other 33 friends never even saw the world outside the Zari manufacturing unit. In the joint rescue operation conducted by BBA, Delhi Police and SDM Seelampur 34 trafficked bonded child labourers have been rescued from Zari Industry in North Gonda Chowk Sub Divison Seelam Pur , New Delhi. Three employers were also arrested in this rescue operation. Most of the children are from Sitamani and Nepal.

All the children were barely covered by clothes and were working in dark rooms with no source of light and air. Five of them are of the age group of 7-8 year only. Sadam (name changed) is 7years old and the youngest among all the children revealed to the BBA activist that he was brought in Delhi with the promise of better future and his parents were given 1000-1500 Rupees in advance but instead of sending him to school he was dumped in this Zari manufacturing unit. He also said that employers would drink and beat him if the work is not done on time or is not of good quality. After working tediously from 8:00 in morning and 1:00 in the night they were treated mercilessly.

This is the 12th raid jointly conducted by BBA and state authority exactly in North East Delhi from 2007-2008 but not a single trafficker or employer has ever been put in jail, no efforts has been made by the local police to check influx of trafficked children in the area said Kailash Satyarthi , founder of Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Chairperson of Global March Against Child Labour. Unless deterrent action is taken or unless the officials are held accountable for the perpetuating crime this menace would continue, he added. 

R.S Chaurasia Chairperson of Bachpan Bachao Andolan alleged that due to the failure of government machinery, children are being trafficked and dumped in these manufacturing units. It has also been noted that trafficking activities have increased in the flood affected districts Supaul, Araria, Saharsa, Katihar, Purnia and Madhepura etc are being trafficked by means of trains and buses to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Punjab, and Haryana. Traffickers are capitalizing one of the worst catastrophe of flood, and helplessness of the poor people, in taking away their kids for slavery, child prostitution, and for other worst forms of child labour. “While the entire government administration and police are engaged in rescue and relief work, the scandal of child trafficking is largely ignored”, he added.

The Sub Divisional Magistrate, Seelampur A.K.Sharma said “Upon speaking to the children, we realised that they worked from 7AM-1:00PM in the night and never received any wages for their work. This clearly means that they were bonded labours. Hence, they would be given release certificates under the Bonded Labour Act. This release certificate entitles them to their 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. Y. P. Oberoi, Director Child Welfare Committee, Mayur Vihar has given the custody to BBA and now all the children would be staying in Mukti Ashram the transit rehabilitation center of BBA till all the legal formalities are being taken care.

Rakesh Senger National Secretary of BBA said "there are over 50,000 children working in different zari manufacturing units in Delhi. In the past 2½ years, BBA has rescued over 1600 children from these units. Despite several orders from the Honourable Delhi High Court, children continue to be employed. This is against the spirit of the law and the Constitution of India. We want a situation where the State takes a firm step and remove children from these units at the earliest."

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