Six child labourers rescued

Six child labourers, all boys aged between 10 and 15, were rescued from Vinobha Nagar here on Monday.

The team comprised officials from Childline 1098, Labour Department, Department of Women and Child Development, the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Kalasipalyam police.

Childline member Nagamani told

The Hindu that they raided some shops around J.C. Road and rescued the children. “[They] were employed in garages and small shops. The children would be made to work for a minimum of 10 hours a day. And for most of them the day begins at 8 a.m. The rescued boys told us that they had been working for a couple of months and were paid Rs. 200 to Rs. 400 per week,” she said.

Labour Department officials said that if they found that any of the rescued children was under 14 years of age, the employer would be penalised under the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act and Rules 1986.

Injured

Rajeshwari, who was in the rescue team, said that one of the rescued boys was injured. “One of the almirahs had fallen on his leg when he was working. It is not safe for children to work in such places,” she said.

According to her, in some cases parents themselves sent their children to work as the later were uninterested in studies.

According to a survey by the Childline earlier, it was found that there were 30 child labourers working in Vinobha Nagar. However, they found only six on Monday and suspect that some owners may have been tipped off about the raid.

The rescued children, with the support of the Special Juvenile Police Unit, were produced before the Child Welfare Committee. Counselling was advised for them.