55 Bonded Labourers, including 22 Children, Rescued from Brick Kiln in Uttar Pradesh on BBA's complaint

A team led by the District Magistrate rescued 55 bonded labourers, including 22 children, from a brick kiln in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Acting on a complaint filed by the Association for Voluntary Action, also known as Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), the district administration swiftly took action in the Kumarheda area, freeing the labourers.

Most of those rescued belong to Scheduled Castes and minority communities in Saharanpur and nearby areas. Information about the bonded labourers was relayed to BBA by one of the workers at the brick kiln.

The rescued labourers recounted promises made by the owner of the CBF brick field, Haji Salim Kadir, and the accountant, Amjad, regarding education and medical facilities for the children, as well as hygienic conditions at the workplace. However, these promises were never met, and if the workers demanded anything including their dues and wages, they were mercilesly beaten up by the owners. They were also prohibited from leaving the premises and forced into bonded labour under false claims of debt.

Despite these harsh conditions, a labourer named Nazim managed to escape the kiln on March 14 and apprised BBA about the bonded laboureres there. BBA promptly forwarded the complaint to relevant state departments, including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The Uttar Pradesh government responded swiftly, with the District Magistrate forming a team involving labour department, police, and other departments and raided the kiln, resulting in the resue of all bonded labourers, including children. Legal proceedings, including FIR, are underway.

The rescued children received counseling for their physical and mental well-being from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) before being reunited with their families.

Expressing gratitude to the Uttar Pradesh government and the district administration for their prompt response, Manish Sharma, Director, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, said, "It is encouraging how swiftly the Uttar Pradesh authorities sprang into action in the case. The action and the consequence are both an important message to those indulging in such crimes even today. Even while there are laws in place, the truth remains that child labour as well as bonded slavery continue to exist in some factories such as brick kiln. The governments, therefore, need to widen their monitoring and have zero tolerance to such crimes."