MANGALORE : The departments of Labour, Public Education, Police and the Child Line, which jointly raided the Casa Grande Apartment at Attavar in the city on Thursday, at the directions of the CWC, have been successful in rescuing a minor boy aged around 7 to 8 who was working as a domestic help for a family in the apartment. The boy has been produced before the CWC court. The team even raided five more houses in the complex and traced three other child labourers who however are said to be above 14 years.
The recent operation has once again revealed that the so called elite section, living in this posh apartment complex, has still failed to correct itself even after a child labourer Ayesha employed by one of the families here had jumped from the third floor of the building and was seriously injured, in her bid to escape, a few months ago.
It was indeed very sad to see the kids who would otherwise be merrily playing and studying, doing domestic chores in the residences of the affluent class living here.
The incident : On Thursday morning, Karavali Ale office received a telephone call saying a child was forced to work as a domestic help in one of the apartments in Casa Grande. The matter was immediately brought to the notice of the CWC.
At around afternoon, the officials of the different departments raided the residential complex and searched the residence of Abdul Rehman and found a child labourer named Zakatullah. The boy was immediately taken into custody and handed over to the Labour Department for further investigation.
On enquiry at the spot, the boy revealed that he was one of the four children of Sattar and Razia couple of Bhadravathi and had studied upto third student. He also revealed that his elder sister who is 13 was also working in Chikmagalur.
Though the boy seemed terrified during the raid, later on coming to know that he was being rescued, cooperated with the investigation.
” I am made to get up at 5 in the morning. Then I have to wash a heap of clothes. By the time I finish washing, the family will be having its food. Then I have to wash the dishes and later mop the floor. Even after doing all these works, I was harassed,” the boy revealed innocently. Scribes present on the occasion even realised that Rehman’s son tried to threaten the boy when he was making his statement. After securing the statement of the Rehman family, the boy was produced before the CWC court. According to CWC member Geo D’Silva, the child would be subject to medical examination at Wenlock to ascertain his age and then a case would be registered against the family. Steps would also be taken to ensure a bright future for the child, he said.
As the CWC operation in the complex continued, it came to light that a 15 year old girl named Manjula worked in the residence of a doctor couple working for a prestigious hospital. But, it was also learnt that the couple was not just using the services of the girl, but were also educating her. The girl is presently studying in tenth standard.
But as the couple had no records to prove that they have employed her, they have been directed to produce the relevant documents before the CWC court within eight days.
The team also found two more boys aged 14 and 15 working for one Mansoon . The boys hailed from Bhadravathi. Though the case did not come under the purview of the Labour Department, as, under the Anti-Child Trafficking Act, it was an offence to keep children in any residence without relevant documents,the family was asked to produce the children before the CWC court next Thursday.
Meanwhile, when the team was tipped off regarding the presence of another child labourer in the apartment complex, the house concerned was found locked.
The visiting team found several children in the below 18 age group with the families employing them however not knowing their whereabouts as in most cases, the children were just sent to some families by some middlemen.
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