More than 1 million rupees as rehabilitation package for rescued trafficked bonded child labourers

High Court Judgment Transformed into Action

New Delhi, 22^nd July 2009. The recent Delhi High Court judgment against child labour on a petition filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan(BBA) is beginning to show its effect. In just 5 days after a recent rescue of 66 trafficked children, on BBA’s application, the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Kanjhawala, New Delhi , Mr. Ranjeet Singh expedited the rehabilitation, investigation process and provided Release Certificates under the Bonded Labour Abolition Act 1976. The police had rescued the children on the complained made by BBA.

This Release certificate entitles family of each child with monetary compensation Rs. 20,000, enrollment of children in National Child Labour Programme (NCLP), house under Indira Awas Scheme and other benefits under various government social welfare schemes. Thus, these 66 rescued trafficked bonded labourers would get a rehabilitation amount of more than Rs. 10 lakh and 32 thousand (1.32 million).The rescued bonded child labourers were trafficked from Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Supaul, Motihari, Deoghar districts of Bihar.

While talking to Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, Founder, Bachpan Bachao Andolan in the government recognized short stay home run by BBA, Mukti Ashram, 10 years old Junaid (name changed) said that “one year back my chacha (village uncle) gave Rs 700 to my father and said that your son will study in a madrassa (Muslim school), as well as also assisting with some minor work. But I was forced to work in the shoe making industry, and when I complained they threatened me. The contractor had beaten me with scissors for not completing the work in one day.” He also informed that he was made to work for twelve to thirteen hours daily, and when he failed to give satisfying results he was beaten-up. He said, “We were always locked up in the room so that we could not go out and talk to anyone but if we really pleaded then an adult would accompany us”.

Mr.Kailash Satyarthi, founder of BBA said that “We have observed that there are various group of traffickers in the name of registered NGOs and placement agencies who are working in Delhi and Bihar. They cheat poor parents bring their children to cities and force them to work as bonded labourers. BBA has already written to the Chief Mininster of Bihar to take action against such traffickers”.

Mr. R.S.Chaurasia, Chairperson, BBA said that “the recent judgement given by Delhi High Court clarified the roles of various departments and agencies in the rescue and rehabilitation of child labourers. In the case of these 66 children, the Delhi Police has started investigation of the employers and going to fine Rs. 20,000 per children to these employers. The amount thus collected will be submitted to Child Welfare Fund and will be given to these children apart from the rehabilitation package. We are glad to see that the judgement and directions given by the High Court have been followed sincerely and we hope that this trend would be maintained in the future as well.”