The rescue of 15 children being trafficked to Delhi from villages in Purnia and Araria districts, which bore the brunt of the deluge when the Kosi changed course, has brought to light tales of childhood condemned to an uncertain future.
Though police claim their intervention saved the children from being forced into child labour in the megapolis by traffickers, the accounts of the children are quite to the contrary.
Though police claim their intervention saved the children from being forced into child labour in the megapolis by traffickers, the accounts of the children are quite to the contrary.Seven-year-old Mashrul is wise beyond his years and said he wanted to work in Delhi to pay back the debt his father had incurred for the wedding of his sister.
“Our farm is covered by a sheet of water. I have three sisters and our father had taken a loan for the wedding of one of them which has to be repaid,” says the boy, unconcerned by the presence of the police.
Like him, 11-year-old Tassavur says, “I have two sisters, who need to be married off. When one of my acquaintances asked me whether I was prepared to go and work in Delhi, I agreed,” says Tassavur.
He had headed for the alleged traffickers from the field where he was grazing cattle without even informing his family.
Officer-in-Charge of Government Railway police station, Katihar, Suresh Prasad, whose team rescued the children with the help of volunteers
of ngo ‘Bal Kalyan Samiti’ last Saturday, said 15 children from villages under Jalalgarh police station in Purnia and Araria police station in Araria districts were rescued and five traffickers arrested.
The traffickers were charged under Section 14 of the Child Labour Act and Section 34 of IPC (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and sent to jail, while the children were being sent to their families.
“Ostensibly, these children between seven and 14 were being taken to be forced into child labour in factories,” teh police officer said.
Mohd Mussawar, one of the those arrested denied he was a trafficker claiming “I was going to Delhi in search of work and the children’s families volunteered to send them along due to the hardship being faced by them…
Information gathered from zeenews.com