105 kids rescued from child labour, begging in 11 months

A special campaign against child labour, child marriages and begging is being carried out in Rohtak district by the Mission to the Desperate and Destitute (MDD) of India and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU).

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“As many as 105 children engaged in child labour and begging have been rescued in the district over the past 11 months. Of these, 51 children were found working as labourers, while 54 were found begging. After counselling, these children were handed over to their families through the District Child Welfare Committee,” said Surender Singh Mann, CEO of MDD (Haryana).

The initiative is being run in collaboration with the Just Rights for Children Alliance, a coalition of five NGOs working against child trafficking, sexual exploitation and related issues.

Among the 51 rescued child labourers, all of whom were boys aged 10-17, most were found working at scooter and motorcycle repair shops, tea stalls, eating joints and hotels.

During counselling, many children revealed that poverty and unemployment had pushed them into labour. In some cases, children worked because their fathers were alcoholics and unable to support the family.

A 13-year-old boy working at an auto-repair shop shared that his father was an alcoholic, and his mother worked as a domestic help. As the eldest of four siblings, he was forced to work to help his family survive.

In some cases, parents sent their children to work to keep them away from bad company.

A 12-year-old boy raised by a single mother had fallen into bad company, prompting his mother to send him to a scooter-repair shop to keep him occupied and away from negative influences.

The 54 rescued children involved in begging were mostly girls aged 4-17. These children were counselled to stay away from begging and reintegrated into their families.

Authorities continue to monitor vulnerable areas and rescue children from exploitative conditions. The campaign aims to protect children from forced labour and begging, ensuring their rehabilitation and education.