Mumbai : As per the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Day against Child Labour which falls on June 12 every year, is defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.
It refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children, or work whose schedule interferes with their ability to attend regular school, or work that affects in any manner their ability to focus during school or experience a healthy childhood.
Pratham Council for Vulnerable Children (PCVC) has been working on the issue of child labour in association with the Mumbai Police.
From June 6 to June 12, PCVC conducted a campaign against child labour. The NGO also focuses on child beggars, child hawkers, the girl child, children with disability, child sexual abuse and child education.
The week-long mass awareness campaign drew the attention of Mumbaikars towards the issue of child rights and protection. The campaign titled “Complete the Circle” hit the issue at its core, inviting citizens to rise in its wake and jointly raise their voices to free children from exploitative conditions.
Under the supervision of Pravin Kumar Patil , Deputy Commissioner of Police (Enforcement) , in the last six months child labourers are being picked up from chappal making units that include cutting work at Kurla, Nehru Nagar and Thakkar Bappa colony in Chembur. Most of them are migrants from Rajasthan. Child labourers are also being rescued from Malwani and Shivaji Nagar. Most of the child labourers involved in zari work are migrants of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Children were also rescued from bangle making units operated through machines at Charkop and Kurar in Kandivili. Minor children were also rescued from wood furniture making units at Jogeshwari and Oshiwara. Most of the migrants working in these units are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The children are also involved in leather making industries at Nagpada, Agripada, Dharavi and Kurla and from garment industries which involves cutting work at Worli and Wadala. Some of the minors are employed as servants to carry out household work like cooking food, cleaning utensils, sweeping and brooming floors. These minors involved in household work were rescued from Saki naka, Bandra and Behrampada in Jogeshwari.
“Across Mumbai, we have been effectively conducting special drives against child labour. The Mumbai police in association with Pratham, NGO will continue to conduct drives to rescue children from various exploitations. People are being booked under relevant sections and being tried under various sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Indian Penal Code. The Mumbai Police Commissioner is taking a keen interest in these initiatives. The drive will continue.” said DCP Patil.
Nowadays, child labourers are picked up from Karjat, Kalyan , Dadar T.T. and mostly trafficked to Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and Patna.
Data provided by the Mumbai police for cases registered and accused arrested by the Mumbai police
Sr.No Year Cases registered Accused arrested Number of children rescued
1 2010 48 42 273
2 2011 14 31 61
3 2012 67 284 538
4 2013 37 174 329
5 2014 100 441 846
6 2015 515 718 1039
7 1st January , 2016 uptil 5th June , 2016 119 149 272
