36 Child Labourers Rescued from Factories in Raisen

Raisen, Madhya Pradesh – In a significant operation, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), along with police and Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), rescued 36 children, including 25 girls, from three factories in Mandideep town of Raisen district.

The raid was prompted by a complaint filed by BBA, which alleged that several commercial establishments in Mandideep were trafficking children from various parts of the country and employing them illegally. The three factories have been sealed, and legal action is underway.

The rescued children, all appearing malnourished, sleep-deprived, and vulnerable, were reportedly forced to work for 12-14 hours daily in these bakery and electronic product manufacturing units. Aged between 15 and 17 years, the children hailed from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and neighboring districts of Madhya Pradesh. Most of the rescued girls belonged to nearby tribal areas.

Following counseling, the children were produced before the Child Welfare Committee.

The factories included a bakery unit manufacturing biscuits and rusks, a food processing establishment, and a unit manufacturing plastic electronic products.

Commenting on the prevalence of child labor in supply chains, Manish Sharma, Director of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, stated, "The production supply chain harbors one of the worst forms of child labor. At every stage, from production to delivery, employers prioritize cheap and compliant labor. Children, being easy targets and highly vulnerable, are routinely trafficked, bought, and sold for labor. While parents and families fall prey to the promises made by traffickers and employers, we have strong laws in place, and law enforcement agencies are working to dismantle this supply-and-demand chain. However, we need to intensify our efforts. We urge the government to expedite the passage of the much-needed anti-trafficking bill to eradicate this severe violation of child rights."