BANGALORE: Four children who were allegedly employed as labourers in the city were rescued on Monday afternoon by BOSCO Childline, from Javaregowdadoddi at Rajarajeshwari Nagar.
“We received a call on the child helpline about children segregating big plastic covers and washing them in sewage water,” said a BOSCO member. When the rescue team reached the spot, they found four children aged below 14 working in a plastic bag segregation facility.
“The children were from Navadha district of Bihar and had been brought to Bangalore four months ago by their employer, who had promised them a monthly salary of `3,000,” a BOSCO member said.
The children used to work around 14 hours every day, with their day starting at
6 am and sometimes ending at 8 pm.
“Big plastic bags which had chemicals were brought from some establishments by the employer and the children’s job was to clean them for reselling,” a team member said.
‘Children Ill-treated’
The children have alleged that they were not allowed to leave the workplace and their accommodation was a temporary shed. “When the kids said they wanted to go back home, the employer used to shout at them. They used to take bath once in 15 days and food was given to them just twice a day,” a rescue team member said.
The team, along with Rajarajeshwari Nagar police, contacted the Child Welfare Committee and the children were sent to a rescue home. “We will file an FIR tomorrow. The police are on the lookout for the employer, who is absconding,” a BOSCO source said.