Bantwal: 8-year-old child labourer rescued from policeman's residence

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (DV)

Bantwal, Sep 1: In a joint operation, officials of the child helpline, the education department, the labour department and the police on Saturday August 31 rescued an 8 year-old child who was working as a maid at a house belonging to a Kadri police constable and a village accountant at Ajjibettu, BC Road here.

When child helpline got information about the child labour and the way the young girl was made to work in the house, the officials of the above departments jointly raided the house located at Sanchayagiri third cross road.

The house belongs to Eru Nayak, a constable of Kadri east traffic police station and his wife Jyothi Bai, a village accountant serving under the limits of Bantwal taluk.

Child labour officers have registered the case.

It is learnt that the rescued child Manisha (name changed), an 8-year-old girl, hails from Bellary district. Eru Nayak and Jyothi Bai both being in government service, had hired the girl to look after their one-and-a-half-year-old child. She was also made do various chores at home, officials said.

When the officials carried out the raid, they found the couple's child and Manisha in the house. When the officials questioned Manisha, she told them that her parents were in Tamil Nadu along with her three siblings. Officials also found that the rights of the child had been curtailed, by not providing her basic facilities and not sending her to school. When the officials tried to contact the couple they failed provide proper information. Later, based on Manisha's statement, the officials arrived at the conclusion that Manisha was a child labourer. With the help of police, Eru Nayak was asked to come to the spot.

As per the laws governing child labour, the officials collected statements from Manisha and Eru Nayak, and the girl was produced in front of Asha Nayak, head of child welfare committee for rehabilitation. The labour department will probe the case further. Doctors of Bantwal hospital who examined the child confirmed her age to be between 8 and 10 years.

Child helpline director Renny D’Souza, labour commissioner Prasanna Kumar, block education officer Sheshashayana Acharya, Flavia of the education department, child helpline staff Saritha, Ashuntha D’ Souza, Dinakar of block education resource center, police officials Krishna Kulal and Omen Kutti were part of the raid operation.