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New Delhi, 9 March,2010: In what can prove to be a stringent initiative to eradicate child labour, Delhi Labour Department today sealed a Bindi factory, served a notice to an employer and arrested another one for employing children less than 15 years of age. A joint raid organized by Labour Department, District Task Force and Delhi Police resulted in rescue of 14 bonded child labourers from a Bindi making factory in Khajuri Khaas area of Seelampur today. The Rescue operation was based on a complaint filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan. This rescue operation was executed under the Bonded Labour (Prohibition) Act, 1976.The children rescued had been trafficked from Sitamarhi and Araria districts of Bihar to Delhi.
Akbar (name changed), one of the freed children recalled his days of suffering, “I came to Delhi seven months back along with six other children. Chacha (Trafficker) put me in Bindi making work. All we got was twice a day meal. We slept here (factory) itself. When I asked for money, I was told that I am in the learning phase and therefore I should be the one who should pay my employer for providing the training.”
Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, Founder, Bachpan Bachao Andolan appreciated the SDM’s move towards immediate sealing of the factories where children had been rescued from. He shared that, “The Recent Delhi High Court judgment has simplified the Rescue and rehabilitation process for the bonded child labourers manifold”. He acknowledged and welcomed the Labour department’s effort towards drawing instant compensation from the employers in the form of fine as it created a fear amongst the employers against employing children.
Mr. A K Sharma, SDM, Seelampur divulged that the Rescue operation was carried out on the basis of the complaint made by BBA. All the children rescued shall be given Release Certificates under the Bonded Labour (Prohibition) Act, 1976. The Release Certificates so issued shall make all the children eligible for compensation of Rs. 20, 000 and other benefits provided by the Government of India to assist the Process of their rehabilitation through their respective Home districts. Labour Inspector Mr. Gurumukh Singh further added that all the employers are liable to pay a fine of Rs.20, 000 to each of the children they had employed.
All the children rescued in the raid were presented before the Child Welfare Committee where after they were sent to BBA’s transit rehabilitation centre, Mukti Ashram.
Others participating in the Rescue operation were Senior Activist Ms. Sumedha Kailash, Mr. R S Chaurasia, Chairperson, BBA, Mr. Rakesh Senger, National Secretary, BBA, Mr. Rajesh Sharma, State Coordinator, BBA, Mr. Arshad Mehndi, Mr. Manish Sharma, Mr. Sushil Singh and Mr. Balendra Singh.
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