A report by Shailender Singh 

On the auspicious day of the 14th November, 2007 a function was organized by the World Vision India, which is grassroots child focused Christian relief and development agency, with the underprivileged children at the Girh Kalayan Kendra at Saket community centre. The function was started by the welcome song by the children. It was followed by welcoming the chief guest and special invitees with a bouquet. A child, who was moderating the programme from the dais, invited the guest to address the children. The children were dressed up in very colorful colors. The 600 children participated from Mewat, North, and South Delhi of the slums, resettlement colony and from the villages of the Rajasthan. They were sitting very disciplined in the three queue representing saffron, white, and green respectively. The eminent guest on the dais was Ms.Victoria from the child protection UNICEF, Mr. Bhuwan, National Secretary of the BBA and Anjani from the World Vision. The entire panelist on the dais greeted the children on the occasion of the children's day.

Mr.Bhuwan, National Secretary of the BBA greeted the children on the children's day. While giving talks on the session of the child rights and the reason we are here asked with the children that why do we celebrate the children's day? The children said that we celebrate the children's day to observe the birthday of the Chacha Nehru. Then he asked who Cacha Nehru was? The children's said that he was the first prime minister of India. The children were enjoying responding answer to the panelist. They were sharp, intelligent, and attentive listener to the panelist. Then Mr. Bhuwan told that Chacha Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India but also very lovable to the children. He was very caring and used to invite the children's on his birthday to his house. Then again he asked what do you like the most? The children said that they love to read and write. But what about playing all the time? Children laughed and said honestly yes, we love and like to play the most. How do you feel when you made the mistake? Again they told that yes we are scolded by the teacher and the parents when we do the mistakes. Then Bhuwanji told that yes, you are scolded but that is to correct yourself but at the same time they care and love you more. All the children nodded and smiled. Then Mr. Bhuwan summed-up by saying that all children have the right to education, play, food and love. 

All children chanted the slogans by raising the slogans that every children has right to eat, paly, education and love (Har Bacha ka hai Aadhikar Roti Khel Padahi Payaar). Then he said what about the children who is doing either domestic work or employed in the tea stall, beaten by the employer and also not get a meal to eat sometimes half belly? They are also like your sister and brother and they have not the privilege to attend the school as others children have. Is it good or bad? Everybody said it is very bad. There was complete silence in the hall. Children were listening attentively. What do you do to motivate the child labor to send them to school? Whether we should raise our voice to educate them? Everybody said yes. We must raise our voice to educate them. Then Bhuwanji asked the children - How do you raise your voice? Anybody will come forward and explain to us. 

Shanu, willingly raise his hand to respond to this question he raised his hand and come upon on the dais. He said I will pursue him to go to school. Then Mr. Bhuwan asked how you pursue him. The children said I will talk to his parents to send them into the school. Then Rani studying in IV raised her hand and said that I will talk with the parents and the owner of the Dhabha to send her to school. If they will not send them we will report it to the police. 
They should have the same right as the other children have. These children should study and not do the work. The session was over by chanting the slogans on the right to education and elimination of the child labor. 

The session was very participatory, interactive, and educative and every child enjoyed fully. When Mr. Bhuwan finished the talks on the child rights Ms Victoria interacted with the children. A token of respect of momentum was also presented to the Speakers and the chief guest. After the session the children also presented colorful and rosy cultural programme.Children enjoyed very much. 

Freedom for Suraj: A New Lease of Life

	Govind Khanal, BBA Activist with Police opening the doors of freedom
	Suraj being examined by the Doctors
	The burnt marks on Suraj legs

14 August 2007: On the eve of 60 years of Independence, when the whole nation was raving about freedom and progress, 6 year old Suraj’s (name changed) story forced us to question freedom. The little boy who was found locked in a cowshed without any exposure to sunlight or fresh air, had never known freedom or its meaning till he was rescued by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) activists. Not only was Suraj denied his right to education but was denied the right to life itself.

Govind Khanal, National Secretary of BBA, was informed about Suraj by Press Club members in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. Govind who had faced the atrocities of child labour himself till he found refuge in BBA’s Mukti Ashram, without making any further delay sought support from the district administration by contacting the Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Himani Pandey. BBA’s team (comprising Govind, Kailash Kumar, Deepak and Narayan Singh) along with the administrative officers and police personnel raided the house of Tiranjan Mahto (the employer) in Alaunja Khurd village, Ichak Police Station.

On reaching the house officials found that Tiranjan Mahto and his wife Shanti Devi had already fled from the village. On searching the house, they heard the screaming voice of a child coming from the cowshed which was locked from outside. On breaking into the cowshed they found little Suraj. Suraj was lying near a tethered animal when he was rescued.

The villagers informed the BBA activists that the child had been locked away in the cowshed for almost two years. The child, who did not know the whereabouts of his family, narrated that he was regularly brutally beaten up and also stabbed with hot iron rods. Innumerable fresh wounds, burns and scars of cruelty were clearly visible on his body. The child was completely malnourished and was given uncooked rice to eat in a polythene bag which was found in the cowshed. After the rescue he was sent to the Government Hospital, Hazaribagh for treatment. Due to a digestion disorder he is being given semi-solid food in small proportions. Also, since there has been a lot of blood loss in the past which caused a threat to his life, he is being given blood.

After 60 years of Freedom, why children should be denied their fundamental rights is a question unanswered. Even the reason why Suraj was put through this living hell is still unknown. Everyone at the time of the rescue was appalled and teary eyed at the sight of Suraj, whose body was injured and eyes vacant.

Suraj after getting his freedom on the same day as the nation, celebrated both these occasions in the Hospital where he is now recovering. One can now see the happiness in his eyes ever since he has got a new lease of life.

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9 Children rescued from being trafficked from Jharkhand

23 June 2007 witnessed the release of 9 children from being trafficked in Jharkhand to Murdabad, Uttar Pradesh. Chatra district of Jharkhand is the most trafficking prone area. Children are trafficked for forced labour and child labour. Most often children are made to work in homes, roadside eateries and in various small-scale industries. 

Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) activists were keeping an eye on this area from weeks. On Saturday, 23 June, they got information that children were going to board the train in night. BBA activist with the support from police, local media and Mr. Dinesh Toppo, Sub-Divisional Magistrate were able to rescue 9 children from the clutches of traffickers.

All the children rescued are below 14 years of age. The trafficker Mohammad Istikar Alam managed to escape but two of his assistants were caught. They are in police custody for further investigation.

After investigating it was found that the children belonged to Virhore tribal community One of the most disadvantaged and impoverished communities, lacking even the basic resources like schools, health and employment. There are many government provisions for the development of this community, but due to high corruption none has trickled down to the needy families. The situation is so grave that desperate parents are tricked into sending their children to far off places in lieu of an advance.

When these children united with their parents, the news of their rescue and return spread like wild-fire. Many parents after hearing this came to BBA activists to lodge complaint about their missing children. They informed that the traffickers came to their villages and gave them Rs. 200 as advance and promised more money after their child found employment. After sending their children, they narrated that they had lost touch with them and did not know where the children were. Some parents have been unable to trace their children for years.

This rescue operation reveals plight of the parents who are lured by the traffickers for paltry sums of money and the failure of government development policies, which never reached the needy ones. The question which still remains unanswered is what was the mistake of these children why because of the government malfunctioning and corruption they have to suffer and give up their life and education? BBA demands immediate action on the incompetence of government department to combat child trafficking for forced labour.