The raid of the labour department to rescue child labourers started more than two hours late on Wednesday as officials had no vehicles. The labour inspectors along with volunteers of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) were in a fix for more than two hours as no official vehicles were available to conduct the raids. Later, vehicles were arranged somehow and Abdullahpur area was raided and five children were rescued. Three children aged 8, 10 and 13 were rescued from J J Bakery. Two children aged 10 and 14 were rescued from a cardboard factory in same area. All were working as bonded labourers. Dinesh, volunteer BBA said, “The plan was to raid almost eight places but as there were no vehicles, the raid started late and we were able to finish only two places.” Not only this, as per rule assistant divisional labour officer was to accompany the team but only five labour inspectors were with us. The children were handed over to their guardians after medical check up by Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Dinesh added, “No FIR has been registered yet against any owner. Tehsilar Parveen who accompanied us has been told to prepare orders recommending FIR against owners under IPC and bonded labour prevention Act.
