Bonded Child Labour in Delhi:
28 rescued from Shahpur Jat area in posh South Delhi

Followed by fact finding and media news of garments being produced by children and are being exported by GAP, today, Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre team in collaboration with Labour Department and Delhi Police have rescued 28 child labour from bondage who were working in a Zari factory in Shahpurjat area in south Delhi. Most of these children belonged to West Bengal and some of them even trafficked and they have been trafficked for forced labour. They were all found to be less than 14 years of age. They were working in deplorable conditions. They were setup in one room where they have been forced to work from 10 in the morning till 10 pm in the night, ate and slept in the same room in most hazardous conditions. The room had two toilets and also consisted of a kitchen. The room lacked proper ventilation. There was only one window and felt like suffocation. On arrival of Prayas team, they found that the employers had run away and the contractors who were there got into a fight with them. Then our team contacted the PCR after which the police came and rescued the children and took them to Hauz Khas Police Station. In the meantime on talking with the children the police managed to catch three employers.

Now Prayas has filed an FIR based on Article 6 and 26 of Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act 2000/amended in 2006, Section 347 of IPC, Section 16 of Bonded Labour Act and Section 14 of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act. Police registered case against three employers and they have deposited Rs. 40,000 as compensation. These children have been produced in a Child Welfare Committee. After production, they were sent to Prayas Children’s Home, Jahangirpuri in Delhi. Mr. Rajib K. Haldar, Executive Director, Prayas Institute of Juvenile Justice said that these cases are under investigation and shall be dealt with the local Sub-divisional Magistrate under the appropriate child labour and juvenile justice laws including the Bonded Labour Act. Prayas team shall track the trafficking nexus and contact the families soon, Mr. Haldar said.

Contact for more details:
Prayas Team
Prayas Institute of Juvenile Justice
59, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi -110062
Tel: 011-29955505, 29956244 (M): 9810624285
Email: prayas@del6.vsnl.net.in, www.prayaschildren.org