Eight child labourers rescued from Jaipur's matchbox factory

At least eight child labourers were rescued from a match factory in Jaipur's Bindayaka Industrial Area on Tuesday.

The rescued children, aged 13 to 17, were trafficked by Hira Kumar from their native village in the Madhepura district of Bihar. Hira lured them under the pretext of providing them with a better life and gainful employment in the Pink City.

The children told the rescue team that they were "forced" to work under "stressful and inhumane conditions" at the match factory for long hours in two shifts a day. Despite feeling tired and sleepy due to night work, we couldn't because of the fear of an accident while working on the machines."

The children told the team that the factory owner made them work up to 72 hours a week. The owner of the factory rented a small room near the factory where all the children were provided with food. The children were employed in the factory a few months ago.

Manish Sharma, director of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, expressed his concern over the employment of minors: “Though we have strict laws to protect children from all forms of exploitation and child labour, people continue to force minors to work in hazardous environments. Many corrupt people also traffic in young children and force them into child labour.

These are serious crimes and the government should make child protection agencies and law enforcement agencies proactive at all levels to curb the increasing crimes against children. The Union Government must enact an anti-trafficking law as soon as possible to curb the problem.” A match factory falls under Hazardous Occupation under the law of the land.

The police have registered a case under various sections of the Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labor Prohibition Act and Bonded Labor Act. All children were medically examined and presented to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The children are now protected in the Child Care Institution (CCI).