38 child labourers rescued in Indore

INDORE: As many as 38 child workers, aged 6 to 13 years and employed in a bag manufacturing company, were rescued from five buildings in Pandhrinath area of the city on Wednesday.
A team of NGO Childline, along with the officers of district administration, women and child development department, labour department and police carried out the rescue operation.
Childline’s local director Wasim Iqbal said, “We received information from our Mumbai-based call centre number 1098 that 38 children were working in a bag company and were forced to sew bags from 8 am till midnight.” He said that on the basis of information, a recce was done in the buildings.
“In each of these buildings, there were around 10-12 children who were paid a measly amount for their work. Most of the kids were brought via agents from Bihar and West Bengal while one child was from Nepal,” said Iqbal. He added that the labour department has registered a complaint against the owner of the company.
District collector P Narahari said, “The children are being counselled at the district child welfare committee (CWC) where they have been provided with facilities. We are trying to contact the administration of their respective states and cities and putting in efforts to speak to their parents. It’s a shame that parents do not let children study but force them to work.”
Iqbal said that at the CWC, special individual care plan like their future studies and career opportunities is being chalked out.