New Delhi – A deplorable case of a child who had been kept as a bonded labourer came to light when activists from Bachpan Bachao Andolan rescued 13-year-old Bindeshwar Mandal from I 83-B, Rohini sector – 18, New Delhi. The activists of BBA in Bihar received a complaint from the father of the child, Shri Jagat Mandal of Maghepur block of Madhubani district. He informed them that Shivakant Jha of his village had taken Rs. 26000 from him in exchange for 20 beeghas of land. However, even after Jagat Mandal worked hard by pulling a rickshaw and paid of the Rs.26000 in installments, Shivakant Jha refused to give him the land. Instead Jha had already given the same land to Laleshwar Singh and asked Jagat Mandal to pay more money if he wanted the land. He also demanded to keep Jagat’s son Bindeshwar as a bonded domestic laborer until he received the money in full.

Shivakant Jha kept Bindeshwar in his house for one year and then sent him to his son-in-law Jitendra Jha's house, where Bindeshwar was made to work from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. for another year.

Whenever Jagat Mandal tried to take his son back with him, he was abused and thrown out by Jha. He was not given any money for the work he did. Whenever the little boy committed any minor error, he was brutally thrashed by Jitendra and his wife. It is also important to note that Jitendra Jha is a teacher in a Government School and, according to the law, if any government official employs a child below the age of 14 years, he or she will be suspended from their job.

Yeterday, in a joint effort, activists of BBA, SDM of Saraswati Vihar, Mr. Manoj Dwivedi, police personnel and labor department officials rescued Bindeshwar. The rescue team was led by BBA National Secretary Mr. Rakesh Sengar, Mr. Rakesh Sharma, Mr. Sukhdev Dixit and Mr. Devkant Singh. Bindeshwar's father Jagat Mandal was also present with the BBA activists and was given custody of his son. On meeting his son after the rescue, the father became teary eyed.

BBA National Secretary Mr. Sengar remarked that the case comes under the purview of the Bonded Labour Systems (Abolition) Act, 1976. He also stressed that strict action must be taken against all Government employees who use children as domestic laborers, especially under bonded conditions.

The case has been filed under the Bonded Labour Systems (Abolition) Act of 1976, which makes a child eligible for a compensation of Rs. 20000 as a rehabilitation measure. The SDM has issued orders to provide Bindeshwar with a release certificate, which he will receive tomorrow. A case has been filed against Jitendra Jha.

For photos and other details, please visit : http://www.bba.org.in/news/041007.php

Umesh Kumar Gupta
Advocacy & Communication Unit
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Bachpan Bachao Andolan