The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) rescued 12 child labourers from Gandhi Nagar on Friday. The children were found in a garment factory and cycle-motorcycle mechanic shops in unsafe and unhygienic conditions.

The team of the DCPCR was headed by one of the members of the commission Roop Sudesh Vimal. “Children were rescued by the teams, successfully and provided with masks and sanitizers. The DCPCR and the Delhi Police sealed the establishments and arrested the contractor,” a senior DCPCR official said.

The operation was conducted with teams of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Vivek Vihar); SHO, Gandhi Nagar; Labour Department and NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

Rajendra Pal Gautam, Minister of Social Welfare Women and Child Development said that DCPCR along with Delhi Police and NGOs have done a remarkable job. I congratulate such an effort and I am confident that in the future more such coordinated actions will take place to irradiate the malpractice of child labour in Delhi.

Anurag Kundu, Chairperson of the DCPCR stressed on the rehabilitation for these children and said, "The Commission is in process of evolving comprehensive long-term strategy to make Delhi Child Labour Free by 2023," he said.

 Kundu also urged the citizens to proactively report instances of child labour.

“Statement of the rescued children will be recorded at SDM’s Office, followed by medical tests including COVID-19 test. Thereafter, the children will be produced before a Child Welfare Committee for the decision thereon. This will follow the legal proceedings,” the official said.

With the outbreak of Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdown, there has been a drastic impact on the income of families. According to a joint report by UNICEF and International Labour Organisation, loss of employment and rising poverty is likely to force more children to seek exploitative and hazardous jobs as families use every available means to earn some money and survive.