53 child labourers rescued in Delhi, 7 arrested

Fifty-three child labourers were rescued from two localities in north-east Delhi today and their seven employers arrested, an NGO said here.

Fifty-three child labourers were rescued from two localities in north-east Delhi today and their seven employers arrested, an NGO said here.

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The child labourers were rescued in simultaneous raids conducted in Sultanpuri and Mangolpuri, the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) said.

Tipped off by the NGO, Delhi Task Force for Elimination of Child Labour raided six factories of leather and garment units this morning. The rescue operation was lead by Ajay Kumar, Sub Divisional Magistrate.

Seven employers were also arrested by police.

Most of the rescued child labourers were trafficked from villages in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. All the rescued children were below 14 years of age, the youngest being seven years old, the NGO said.

Children told the authorities that they were working there for more than three months without any wages. Some children who were working there for more than a year were paid a meager amount of Rs 50-100 as weekly wages, they claimed.

"Some others were not being paid any wages as they were told that their parents were given a sum of Rs 1,500 when they were brought here," the BBA said.