19 child labourers rescued from factories

Nineteen trafficked children were rescued from garment and leather factories in Walled City's Nabi Karim on Wednesday.

Nineteen trafficked children were rescued from garment and leather factories in Walled City's Nabi Karim on Wednesday.

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A team of Delhi government officials and NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) had identified more than 100 children working in zari, embroidery and leather industries. Officials said those rescued today were trafficked from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

"We were prepared to raid six different locations where child labourers had been identified. However, after some people started pelting bricks and stones on cars driving activists and the rescued children, the teams had to return with only 19 children from the leather bags and purse stitching industries," said a senior Delhi government official.

The NGO claimed that their activists were also attacked while rescuing trafficked bonded child labourers.

"One of the vehicles was damaged but the activists managed to leave safely. However, many other children could not be rescued. The SDM has taken a very strict view of the matter and has directed the police to register FIR against unidentified people for obstructing public servants in due discharge of his duty," said a BBA spokesperson.

"The children stitched leather bags and purse and were paid Rs. 30 per week for working up to 16 hours daily. All the children were below 14 years of age, the youngest being seven years old," added the official. The minimum wage per day for unskilled labour in Delhi is Rs. 270 for 8 hours.