Ten teenagers who were working at restaurants and shops in Wadala, were rescued by the police and NGO Balprafulta that works for the betterment of street children, on Monday.
The employers had forced children aged below 16 years, hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, into child
labour, according to the Wadala police and members of the NGO. The children had been brought from their villages two to three months ago and were reportedly made to work for more than 12 hours a day.
On Monday, the raids were carried on in Panchvati restaurant, Lakhmi hotel and Mahalakshmi Sweet Mart at Barkat Ali Dargah Marg in Wadala.
“We observed that children were working for the restaurants and shops for more than 12 to15 hours daily. We tied up with the police and rescued the children,” said Snehal Rane, a member of the rescue team of Balprafulta.
The children were taken to the Dongri children home and later presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
The police are verifying the ages of the children. “We are waiting for the CWC’s judgment to arrest the employers of the establishments,” said Police Inspector S. Sawant.
The NGO had rescued more than 28 children from Goregaon and Vakola on July 20.