29 child labourers rescued from Nangloi shoe factory

Authorities today rescued 29 children, working as bonded labourers, from a shoe factory in Nangloi area in West Delhi and arrested two people.

The District Task Force on elimination of child labour conducted a raid and rescued the children on a complaint filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO working for child rights.

"The rescue operation was conducted in a shoe factory in Nangloi, West Delhi headed by Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Punjabi Bagh along with the Labour Department, Delhi police and members of the NGO," a statement said.

Most of the children rescued were trafficked from Chhapra, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Madhubani districts of Bihar and West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

Among the children rescued, two were from Nepal who were trafficked by local traffickers from their villages.

"All the children rescued were below the age of 14 years and were forced to work for 14-15 hours a day. Their movements were also restricted by their employers, thus, compelling them to eat, sleep and work in the same room.

"They had to make upper portion of shoes and slippers. Most of the children were suffering from cold and cough during the time of rescue," Bachpan Bachao Andolan added in the statement.

"We were brought to Delhi by an 'uncle' who told our parents that he would make us study and at the same time work. But since the time we came, we are only working and not studying. It's already more than 3 months and we have no contacts with our parents. We want to go home," the children from Nepal said.

During the rescue operation, five premises were sealed on the order of the SDM and two employers have been arrested. The SDM said the rescued children will be rehabilitated under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act and stern action taken against the culprits.

All the rescued child labourers will receive Rs 20,000 each from the employers immediately and they will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee.

NNN