35 unpaid and ailing kids saved from leather units

NEW DELHI: A day after an 11-year-old girl was rescued from a life of virtual slavery in Tilak Nagar, 35 children were rescued from four different factories in Madipur area of Punjabi Bagh on Tuesday.
The children, all aged between 7 and 14 years, were trafficked to the city from Saharasa and Darbhanga in Bihar and sent to work in leather factories.NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, along with the sub-divisional magistrate, state labour department and the local police raided the factories on Tuesday following a tip-off.
"Their day started at 10 am and continued well into the night, sometimes even until 2 am. All the children were made to work with harmful chemicals. Most of the children show symptoms of tuberculosis and none were paid any wages," said Rakesh Sengar, chairman of Bachpan Bachao Andolan. The youngest amongst the rescued children, Anil (name changed), is barely seven. "He looks pale and weak and told us that due to the chemicals, he felt suffocated and ill. He said the children were beaten if they failed to complete the huge bulk of work in time or if their work was unsatisfactory," said Sengar.
Meanwhile, the owners of the factories and the trafficking agents were said to be absconding and a case under Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act and forceful confinement of a minor under the Juvenile Justice (care and protection) Act has been registered.
While the hunt for the accused continues, the children have been sent to Mukti Ashram run by Bachpan Bachao Andolan. Speaking about the incident, CWC chairman Bharti Sharma said: "Employers try and lie about the age of the children they hire as domestic helps. Every month, an average five such cases come to our notice. Who knows how many are actually happening and are not being reported." She added that the 35 children who were rescued on Tuesday as well as the one rescued on Monday would be presented in front of the CWC magistrate on Thursday.
Sub-divisional magistrate of Punjabi Bagh area, Ashish Mohan, said, "All the rescued children will be rehabilitated under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. They are entitled to a rehabilitation package of Rs 20,000, enrolment in NCLP schools and the benefits from government schemes like housing on a priority basis."
On Monday, 11-year-old Radha (name changed) was rescued from the residence of one Neelam Gulati, who runs a coaching classes and a PG accommodation from her WZ block Tilak Nagar home.