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THE HINDU 30TH MAY 2006
Staff Reporter Raids conducted in Sarai Kale Khan " One person has been detained " Children were living in unhygienic atmosphere NEW DELHI: Seventy-eight children forced to work under inhuman conditions in embroidery units at Sarai Kale Khan in South Delhi were rescued by a non-government organisation, Bandhua Mukti Morcha (BMM), on Monday. One person has been detained. According to BMM president Swami Agnivesh, the operation was carried out in coordination with the area Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Sonika Singh, and the local police. Raids were conducted at four buildings in Sarai Kale Khan where embroidery units were being run. "In all, 78 children have been rescued," said Swami Agnivesh. The children, who are between eight and four years, used to work 14 to 16 hours every day and lived in an unhygienic atmosphere. Swami Agnivesh said the children were rescued under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. "Other provisions do not provide for compensations to the victims of child labour," he said. About two months ago the NGO had rescued 55 children from East of Kailash in South Delhi under the same Act. The organisation made sure that the victims got monetary support on a monthly basis and were rehabilitated properly. "In operations carried out by others, the children are rescued under other legal provisions due to which they are not rehabilitated properly," said BMM's national secretary Manoj Kumar Singh. http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/30/stories/2006053015890400.htm The Indian Express 30th May 2006 CHILD LABOUR: JOINT ACTION BY SWAMI AGNIVESH FOUNDATION AND POLICE; EACH CHILD TO BE GIVEN RS 20,000 FOR STUDIES 78 children rescued from Sarai Kale Khan factories Express News Service New Delhi, May 29: SEVENTY-eight children, working as bonded labourers, were today rescued from Sarai Kale Khan in a joint action by the police and the Swami Agnivesh foundation. The owners of the factories and shops, where the children-most of who are from Bihar-were working, are being arrested and prosecuted, the police said. Swami Agnivesh says: ''These children mostly worked in the textile industry and did zardozi work. They were paid a pittance, and given very little food by their employers. They have not seen their families in years.'' Mohammed Fayaz, one of the rescued children, said he always hoped to get the zardozi patterns he stitched right, or he would miss a meal. Mohammed, who has been in Delhi for four years, says: ''My brother had come to Delhi for a job. Later, he came to our village saying he worked in a shop, and that I could get a job too. He was earning Rs 1,500 every month, and said I could earn Rs 1,000.'' ''Our family needed the money, so I came. But soon, my brother had a fight at the shop and left the job. I also was made to leave the job,'' said Mohammed. To earn enough money to return home, Mohammed got this job, which got him Rs 500 a month and two meals a day. ''They would give us a few rotis and dried sabzi - if we did our work perfectly. But we couldn't leave.'' ''The children will be taken to our ashram near Sohna, where they will be kept for a few days. They will be given Rs 20,000 to pay for their education and to help their families. When they get home, they will be able to spread the importance of education to help prevent such labour,'' says Swami Agnivesh. ''I can't believe that we can go home and will have enough money to keep out of this place,'' says Sameer (7), who has been in Delhi for six months doing chikankari work. http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=185110
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