Date:06/01/2008
13 child labourers rescued from paper mill
Staff Reporter
HYDERABAD: Inspection of a paper mill following the death of a child labourer due to alleged negligence of management led to the rescue of 13 of his ‘colleagues’ at Medchal on Saturday.
All the rescued child workers were in the age group of 11-14 years and hailed from Dharbhanga and Madhubani districts of Bihar. While two labour contractors of Bihar, Kamlesh Kher Jha and Chandrashekhar Jha, were arrested on charge of hiring the children, the Limra paper mill owner Mohd. Afroz was absconding, the Cyberabad DCP (Alwal) Mahesh Bhagwat said.
Thirteen-year-old Mohd. Shakeel working in the factory located at Kishtapur died on Friday after he was hit by a conveyor belt. A case under section 304-A (rash and negligent act resulting in death) and 374 (unlawful compulsory labour) of the Indian Penal Code was registered. Shifted to hospital
Later, Medchal Inspector Mohd. Rafiq inspected the mill jointly with the officials of the Factories and the Labour departments to ascertain facts. They found 13 more children working in the mill and rescued them. The children were shifted to the Government hospital for age determination test.
The children would be lodged in Ashrita rescue home in Petbasheerabad till they are reunited with their respective parents.
The DCP said each rescued child worker would be provided a financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 as per Government norms.
“We are writing to the Government to close down the mill since employing children in hazardous units is a serious offence,” Mr. Bhagawat said.
Staff Reporter
HYDERABAD: Inspection of a paper mill following the death of a child labourer due to alleged negligence of management led to the rescue of 13 of his ‘colleagues’ at Medchal on Saturday.
All the rescued child workers were in the age group of 11-14 years and hailed from Dharbhanga and Madhubani districts of Bihar. While two labour contractors of Bihar, Kamlesh Kher Jha and Chandrashekhar Jha, were arrested on charge of hiring the children, the Limra paper mill owner Mohd. Afroz was absconding, the Cyberabad DCP (Alwal) Mahesh Bhagwat said.
Thirteen-year-old Mohd. Shakeel working in the factory located at Kishtapur died on Friday after he was hit by a conveyor belt. A case under section 304-A (rash and negligent act resulting in death) and 374 (unlawful compulsory labour) of the Indian Penal Code was registered. Shifted to hospital
Later, Medchal Inspector Mohd. Rafiq inspected the mill jointly with the officials of the Factories and the Labour departments to ascertain facts. They found 13 more children working in the mill and rescued them. The children were shifted to the Government hospital for age determination test.
The children would be lodged in Ashrita rescue home in Petbasheerabad till they are reunited with their respective parents.
The DCP said each rescued child worker would be provided a financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 as per Government norms.
“We are writing to the Government to close down the mill since employing children in hazardous units is a serious offence,” Mr. Bhagawat said.
