39 child labourers trapped in lockdown rescued from Jetpur

Kept confined since the national lockdown began, 39 child labourers were rescued from three textile units in Jetpur taluka of Rajkot on Saturday.

The CID Crime (women and child welfare) rescued the kids after raiding Gayatri Finishing at Chaprajpur Road in Bhojadhar, Jetpur and at Atul Finishing Works near the primary school, Bhojadhar next to Sonal Dining Hall in Jetpur.

The raids were carried out with NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan , an NGO led by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, said CID Crime ADGP Anil Pratham. The CID Crime team carried out a raid after receiving a tip-off about the children being confined in the units.

"We already had information about use of child labour by these units before the lockdown. Due to the lockdown, the raid was delayed. We had already received instructions from Delhi to check the living conditions of all labourers. And, we found the pitiable condition of the children during one of our checks on these units," Pratham said.

The children were given food to eat but their living condition was really bad. "It is illegal for any unit to hire children below the age of 18 to work. The lockdown and the transfer of migrants has got nothing to do with the number of children working in these units had employed children even before the lockdown."

Regarding arrests, police said, "We are still taking statements of the children and will carry out due process." The children are likely to be kept in a Child Care Institution in the protection of the State in Rajkot itself. Officials said that Covid-19 tests may be carried out on the children.