Slavery of children is making mockery of RTE Act in India

Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) directly came to know through the victim (Mohd. Basir) about the suffering of his three children by the power loom owner. These children were being ill-treated and very often beaten by the power loom factory owners for forcing them to work for a longer time and bonded for them.

The three sons of Mohd. Basir residents of house No 19/232A Lallapura, Varanasi city, India were working as bonded child labourers in the power loom factory of Mr. Jameedl Hazi of Khalik and his mother-in-law Jamal S/O Hanif near to Makkhu Baba Masjid, Lallapura, Varanasi city, India from last six month.
 1.     Mohd. Ali s/o  Mohd Bashir aged about 13 years old.
2.     Mubarak Ali s/o Mohd Bashir aged about 11 years old.
3.     Murad Ali s/o Mohd Bashir Aged about 9 years old

In the six months, these children were only remunerated with 3800 INR (first installment of 1800 Rupees and second of 2000 Rupees) and they stopped going to their work when they were not paid by the owner during their festival- EID.  

 These children were being ill-treated and very often beaten by the power loom factory owners for forcing them to work for a longer time. The children were employed on the work from 7 am to 11 pm. They were given just 30-minute break during this time for lunch.

 Bashir has 4 sons and 4 daughters. He has no means of livelihood for his family members other than pulling Rickshaw in Varanasi City. His 17-year-old daughter has been suffering from serious illness for last few months and it has added up the hardships of the family.

For the minor children, who have been working for such a long time (16 hours in a day) proved to be harmful for their health and they got ill, and could not continue their work.  But, the owners of the power loom factory are threatening the children and their parents to send the children on work. It is also informed that the children were being paid much less for their work.

On 22nd September, 2010 PVCHR sent letter to National Human Rights Commission, District Magistrate, Varanasi and also to State Human Rights Commission, Lucknow.

 This is also known as slavery labour and is one of the worst types of labour for children and adults, alike. In fact, in 1976 the Indian Parliament enacted the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act; herein declaring bonded illegal. However, the fact remains that this system of working still continues.

According to certain experts approximately 10 million bonded children labourers are working as domestic servants in India. Beyond this, there are almost 55 million bonded child labourers hired across various other industries.

In Varanasi district and other parts of Uttar Pradesh, people from the socially and economically marginalized communities are still exploited for forced labour. People from these communities are treated inhumanly; physically abused and are paid nothing by their employers.

The domestic law against bonded labour– the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 provides for punishment for compelling a person to engage in bonded labour. In addition to prescribing punishment for forcing persons into bonded labour, the Act by a declaration freed everyone from bonded labour and prohibits contractual agreements facilitating bonded labour and continuation or extension of any pre-enactment agreement of similar nature. The Act also writes off all pre-enactment debts and liabilities that had resulted in forced labour.