SURAT — In a major crackdown on child labor, 14 children from Bihar, aged between 12 and 18, were rescued from the Muzaffarpur-Ahmedabad Barauli Express train at the Surat railway station. This operation, based on crucial intel, also led to the arrest of seven contractors responsible for transporting these minors.
The intervention came as part of the "Access to Justice Project," initiated after rising reports of child labor on some Western Railway trains. Jayendrasinh Thakor, coordinator of the Kishore Sahayata Kendra Society in Surat, highlighted the collaborative efforts involved in the rescue. Organizations like Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Prayas Juvenile Help Center Society, Railway Protection Force, and Railway Police played pivotal roles.
One of the rescued girls, only 17 years old, further spotlighted the grim reality these children face. Following their rescue, the children were directed to the Children's Home for Boys in Katargam for necessary medical treatment and care.
Further investigations will probe into the larger network of child labor operations, with legal action impending against the main proprietors. Prayas Juvenile Help Center Society, operating since June 2023 in Surat and across nine states, remains at the forefront of this fight. Their comprehensive program targets child labor, sexual abuse, trafficking, and child marriages, offering afflicted children counseling, legal aid, and protection.
Thakor emphasized the project's importance: "Our collaboration with 'Prayas' ensures a child-centered approach to development and opportunity. Our goal is to provide every child in need the rights and welfare they deserve, irrespective of caste, religion, or gender."
