To ensure proper rehabilitation and compensation to a 10-year-old survivor of bonded labour in the city, the district child welfare committee has written a letter to Ranchi Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday to take the required action.
Childline produced 10 year old Ankur (name changed), who was found wandering in Lower Bazaar police station area on Monday evening, at Child Welfare Committee Ranchi.
In his statement to the CWC, Ankur who hails from Bihar, said that he was sold by his father to an owner of the hotel in Ranchi for a mere Rs 25,000. CWC chairperson Rupa Kumari said, “The hotel owner runs an illegal business of selling marijuana in the garb of hotel. The boy was made to roll the joints and sell them to customers. His fingers are damaged. He seems to have gone through a lot of torture.”
The boy, when rescued, was found in the possession of Rs 8,000 and was trying to get back home. In his statement to CWC Ankur said that along with him there were other children working at the hotel. “He was very scared of the employer and hinted that the employer also has criminal background, said CWC member Srikant Kumar.
The letter written to the DC recommends compensating the child for being a bonded labour. Kumar said, “Till date no compensation has been given to rescued bonded labourers in the district and if we are able to help him get compensation this would be the first such case.”
A survivor of bonded labour has to be given a compensation of Rs 2 lakh and his or her family has to be linked by various Government schemes. “However, to get the compensation, the person has to get a release certificate from the SDO, stating that he or she was a bonded labourer who has been rescued. We are requesting the DC to ensure that this child gets his release certificate,” Kumar said.
The letter also mentions the various sections under which action is needed to be taken against the employers. CWC has recommended registration of the complaint under section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act which talks of punishment for cruelty to child, Section 370 and 370 (a) of Indian Penal Code which talks of trafficking and forced slavery.
CWC has also recommended registering FIR under section 16 of Bonded Labour (abolition) Act, 1976 which talks of punishment for enforcement of bonded labour.