When two brothers were found working long days in a motorcycle garage, a timely intervention changed the course of their lives and their family’s future.
Kanu* and Manu* are brothers from a rural community in eastern India. Their father lost his job as a daily wage laborer in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, sending their family into financial stress. The hardship continued into 2021, as their father remained unemployed despite repeated efforts to find work.
Poverty Forces a Choice No Child Should Face
The family’s worsening economic condition forced the brothers to leave school in order to work and contribute to the family’s income. At the time, Kanu was only 11 and Manu was only 12. Both brothers started working in a motorcycle garage along with other children, washing motorcycles, cleaning oily and sharp parts, and assisting with repair work. They were required to work from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day and given only 21 cents per day, to be used to buy food. The work was physically exhausting, dangerous, and completely unsuitable for children their age.
The children worked from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day for just 21 cents.
A Team Shows Up at the Right Moment
During an investigation, a Justice Hub team discovered that Kanu and Manu were engaged in child labour and conducted follow up visits to conduct an intervention. The children were subsequently removed from the situation in collaboration with government authorities, resulting in the rescue of eight children from multiple child labor settings. A formal complaint was registered against the perpetrator, and the Justice Hub team facilitated the children’s temporary placement in a safe and protective environment. Over the course of the year, the team’s persistence in pursuing the prosecution case resulted in the conviction of five perpetrators and the imposition of a fine.
The Justice Hub team assisted Kanu and Manu in securing identity documents, opening bank accounts, and taking other measures to facilitate the compensation and rehabilitation process. They received immediate financial relief, and additional compensation was deposited in their names under a child protection scheme in the form of fixed deposits. The team also supported their father in accessing benefits under a government welfare scheme, which provided some financial stability to the family. Through continued counselling and guidance, their father recognized the importance of education in improving his children’s future and reducing long-term vulnerability and committed to prioritizing their schooling and welfare.
Back in the Classroom
Kanu and Manu were re-enrolled in a local government school and did not return to their earlier life of labour. They expressed a desire to study and build a better future for themselves. In mid-2022, at an event of national observance against child labour, Kanu and Manu were formally recognized by a senior state representative for the progress they had made in their restoration journey. Plans were also made to support their education further through additional academic assistance.
Over time, as their father accessed more stable livelihood opportunities, the family’s situation improved and it is hoped that the brothers will soon return to their father’s care. At present, both children are continuing their education while staying in a youth hostel, working toward a future shaped by learning and greater security. The Justice Hub team’s timely intervention prevented the prolonged exploitation of the children and guided the boys’ parents to understand that education, not child labour, is the key to improving their children’s lives.
*Names changed to protect identity
Kanu and Manu receiving an award from Hon. Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar for their successful rehabilitation from child labor.
