Faizal* is providing food for his family, Deepak* is prepared to pay off his medical debt, Sikander* pays his sister’s school fees, and Jatin* boards a train to look for work in a new city.
With the aid of compensation supplied by the government to assure their rehabilitation, these 4 boys and 27 other child labor survivors are entering the next stage of their life. After almost two years since their rescue, the 31 survivors of child bonded labor received a total amount of INR 6,20,000 (about $7,600 USD) in August 2022 which supports them as they pursue new opportunities in their lives.
These children were rescued from two Delhi facilities in November 2020. They were discovered making, cutting, and stitching bags when they were between the ages of twelve and seventeen. The children worked in unhealthy conditions as the rooms they worked inside had inadequate ventilation. Other parts of the facilities like the cooking area, toilets, and stairs were also filthy and unclean. The children, who are natives of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal, were cramped in one single room where they had to sleep at night as well as work during the day.
The Delhi Justice Hub team collaborated with the police, district administration, labor department, and Child Welfare Commission to rescue the children. The perpetrators were arrested and charged under the Bonded Labour System (abolition) act Child Labour (prohibition and regulation) Juvenile Justice Act.
Through its aftercare program, JVI and its partner have continuously followed up with the children to ensure their mental, physical and emotional well-being over the past two years. Child labor survivors are vulnerable to slipping back into similar situations. The social workers ensured that the children had what they needed and were protected against further victimization. Now supported by the compensation amount, these children are on a path to a brighter future.
*names changed to protect confidentiality
