9 CHILD LABOURERS RESCUED FROM EMBROIDARY FACTORIES AT DELHI
On Friday, October 06, 2006, 9 child labourers (all boys) between the age group10-13 years were rescued by a team of Delhi Labour Department headed by Mr. M.K. Gour, Assistant Labour Commissioner with the help of local police. The children were found employed in M/s Usha Embroidary and M/s M.D.AnwarZari Arts, zari factories in Meethapur village in Badarpur area. The rescue operation lasted for four hours. The factories were raided on the complaint of Social Jurist, Ashok Agarwal.
These children were made to work every day for 12 hours continuously under most undesirable conditions. Five children belong to Dharbhanga District of Bihar whereas the other four children belong to Nepal. According to these children, middlemen have brought them to Delhi.
The Labour Department has booked the employers under Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and Factories Act, 1948. The employers can be punished under these laws with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to two year or with fine, which may extend to one lac rupees, or with both. In terms of the 1996 decision of Supreme Court in M.C. Mehta case, these employers are also liable to pay Re.20000/- per child labourer to the Government which money may be used for the welfare of the families of the rescued children.
These rescued children have been produced before the Child Welfare Committee in the evening of October 06 and CWC placed them in the Children Home, Lajpat Nagar for shelter and investigation and directed to be produced before CWC on 27.10.2006 for further orders.
Mr. Ashok Agarwal met the children on 07.10.2006 in the children home. The children were happy and were taken care of by the Children Home. The children want to go back to their homes immediately and promised to study, said Mr. Agarwal. Mr. Agarwal is planning to file a petition in Delhi High Court for directions to the State of Bihar and request to the Nepal Government to approach the CWC and take these children to their native places and to ensure education for the children and rehabilitation for their parents.
The raid of 6th October is significant in view of the recent notification prohibiting employment of children in homes and eateries, shops etc in the entire country which will come into effect from 10.10.2006.
Ashok Agarwal
M-9811101923
09-10-2006
Email – socialjurist@bol.net.in