The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has urged the Madhya Pradesh government to take stern action against officials after over 30 children it rescued from a distillery in Raisen “disappeared” by the time the sub-divisional magistrate reached the place. The SDM allegedly took five hours to cover 20 kilometres to the distillery.
Following a complaint from Bachpan Bachao Andolan, a team led by NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo inspected Som Distillery in Raisen and rescued over 50 children, including 20 girls, who were employed at the unit. The inspections were part of the child labour prevention month campaign.
Kanoongo said the skin of children’s hands was burnt due to contact with chemicals. The Commission demanded stern action against excise officials for dereliction of duty as the office of the excise officer was also located on the same campus. However, the commission did not expect a shocker when it handed over the case to local authorities for completing formalities.
The NCPCR chairperson charged police could not file an FIR in the case since SDM arrived late to the site and in the meantime, about 39 children escaped from the place. “As per the law, children rescued from child/bonded labour are presented before the SDM and their statements are recorded and a three-member bench of the CWC passes orders for their rehabilitation,” he said.
Kanoongo said the Raisen collector informed him in the afternoon that SDM and Child Welfare Committee have been advised to reach the factory. “The quorum of the CWC was not completed till late night due to which statutory orders could not be passed and it took five hours for the SDM Sahib to cover a distance of 20 kilometres from the district headquarters on the wide highway and it took seven hours for ADM Sahib to cover the same distance. Due to their absence till late night, the police could not file an FIR and in the meantime, 39 children were made to disappear from there,” the NCPCR chairperson said.
“On receiving the information, we returned late at night and even went to the police station but till midnight, there was no trace of the children. Now where are these children? Who took them from under the nose of the administration, how and when will they be presented before the full quorum bench of CWC?” Kanoongo asked.
Meanwhile, the state government has suspended officials under the excise department for their negligence. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said stern action will be taken against culprits.
The Bachpan Bachao Andolan said, "When rescued, the burnt hands of these children due to exposure to chemicals, shook the entire team. The children were brought to plant and back in school bus every day."