80 child labourers rescued in Old City

80 child labourers rescued in Old City
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As many as 80 children employed at bangle-making units in Chandrayanagutta, Kanchanbagh, Moghulpura and Falaknuma areas in the Old City were rescued in a raid conducted by Labour Department officials along with the help of South Zone police on Thursday.

Hyderabad: As many as 80 children employed at bangle-making units in Chandrayanagutta, Kanchanbagh, Moghulpura and Falaknuma areas in the Old City were rescued in a raid conducted by Labour Department officials along with the help of South Zone police on Thursday.

Police arrested at least 10 bangle-making owners and brokers for engaging children. The children, mostly boys aged between four and 14 years, hail from Bihar (Gaya and Nalanda districts) and were working since the last few months. They were allegedly paid meagre amounts ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 per month, the cops said.

“It is unclear whether the children were forcefully brought to city from their native places or they came on their own,” DCP (South) V Satyanarayana said. When contacted RV Chandravadan, Principal Secretary, Labour Department the officer said the officials raided the units in joint operation with the police and found children living in hazardous conditions.

“The owners used to lock the rooms from outside in order to hoodwink police and officials,” Chandravadan said. A case under Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, JJ Act, and section 374 (Unlawful compulsory labour) of the IPC has been registered against the employers.

“Bangle manufacturing is categorised as hazardous under the Act,” ACP (Charminar) K Ashok Chakravarthy said. The rescued children along with brokers were shifted to Mogul function hall at Engine Bowli. Later, the children were handed over to the Child Welfare Department.

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