Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and SDM Delhi Cantonment in a Joint Raid, Rescues 14 Child Labourers from Delhi’s Dhabas and Factories

Fourteen child labourers, most of them with burn injuries and miserable physical health, were rescued from Delhi’s Naraina in a raid conducted jointly by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, SDM Delhi Cantt, Labour Department and police team. The children, who were between the age group of 12-17 years, were rescued from various hotels, roadside eateries and factories in the area.

An FIR has been registered and nine factories and hotels have been sealed.

The rescued children were working in miserable and hazardous working conditions, and most of them had burn marks on their hands and rest of their bodies. Besides these injuries, four of these 14 children had damaged eyes, while one child did not have eyesight in one eye. Many of them were working in roadside eateries and hotels, two in bike repairing while one in chicken shop and a sweets shop each.

All the children rescued belong to the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Once rescued, the preliminary medical examination of each child was conducted and they were produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), after which they have been shifted to the shelter home.

The SDM, Delhi Cantt has ordered the police to register cases under Bonded Labour Act, Child Labour Act, JJ Act and Trafficking Act.

The joint operation was conducted by the BBA team, SDM Delhi Cantt, along with the officials of Labour Department, Police team and Bal Vikas Dhara.

Talking about the dark world of child trafficking and child labour that continues to mar the society, Manish Sharma, Director, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, said, “In spite of having very strong laws to protect children from all kinds of exploitation and child labour, people continue to employ underage children in commercial activities and exploit them.”