52 child labourers rescued, 18 arrested

MUMBAI: Fifty-two child labourers were rescued and 18 persons were arrested from Byculla on Thurday after the Social Services Branch (SSB), the state labour department and the BMC conducted a raid.
The department received a tip off from the NGO Pratham, alerting them to the presence of many underage workers in the industrial area of Kanjarpada, said the area comprised of several small scale industries like embroidery, tailoring and manufacture of leather and plastic bags.
"We rescued 52 boys between the ages of 10 and 14. We arrested 18 persons and booked them under the Child Labour Prevention Act," said ACP (SSB), Vasant Dhoble.
Police said the rescued children mostly belonged to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They were sent to the Dongri Observation Home and would be produced in front of the Child Welfare Commission on Friday.