39 Child Labourers Disappear Hours After Being Rescued From Liquor Factory

Bhopal: Hours after being rescued from a liquor factory in Madhya Pradesh, 39 child labourers have disappeared, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has alleged.

An NCPCR team had raided the Som Distilleries factory, located in Sehatganj area in Raisen, on Saturday to find the children.

NCPCR personnel found burn marks on the children’s hands, which are caused by exposure to chemicals.

The raid was carried out following a complaint received from Bachpan Bachao Andolan that children are made to work in the factory for around 15-16 hours.

NCPCR officials handed the children over to the administration.

However, on Sunday, NCPCR Chairman Priyank Kanoongo claimed that the rescued child labourers had disappeared from custody.

“Yesterday afternoon, during a raid in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, we found 39 boys and teenagers employed in the liquor manufacturing work at the Som Distillery who had disappeared from the factory late in the evening,” Kanoongo posted on X.

बाल श्रम निरोधक माह के अंतर्गत @NCPCR_ को बचपन बचाओ आंदोलन से प्राप्त शिकायत के आधार पर आज रायसेन ज़िले में सोम डिस्टलरी नामक शराब बनाने वाली फ़ैक्टरी में निरीक्षण किया गया जहां 50 से अधिक बच्चे शराब बनाने का काम करते हुए पाए गए हैं इनमें 20 लड़कियाँ भी हैं।
यह संस्थान सरकार के… pic.twitter.com/8KrabMZyZB

— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (मोदी का परिवार) (@KanoongoPriyank) June 15, 2024

As per law, rescued children are presented before the Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) to record their statements. Following that, a three-member bench of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) will pass an order for their rehabilitation, said Kanoongo.

“At 1.30 pm, we were told that the concerned authorities were being sent there. SDM reached after 5 hours, while ADM (Additional District Magistrate) reached after 7 hours. The culprits made use of the darkness, and the 40 children were taken somewhere. We do not know if the kids have been kidnapped, abducted, or allured. The FIR was registered under bailable sections. The various kinds of compensation amounting to Rs 5-10 lakh that were supposed to be given to the children cannot be given now.” Kanoongo told ANI.

“The way the CM (Mohan Yadav) suspended an official at midnight and took action against him has sent a big message. As a result, the other officials are now looking for the disappeared children,” Kanoongo added.

The Madhya Pradesh CM said this was a serious matter.

“The case of child labour has come to my notice during a raid on a factory in Raisen district. This matter is very serious. In this regard, detailed information has been obtained from the officials of Labor, Excise and Police departments and instructions have been given for appropriate action. Strictest action will be taken against the culprits,” Mohan Yadav wrote on his official X handle.