27 children working in Parle-G factory rescued in Raipur

RAIPUR: Around 27 children were rescued from 'Parle' factory of Chhattisgarh capital who were found to be working as child labourers from past few months and an FIR was lodged against the owner. As part of World week against Child Labourers, Raipur collector S Bharathi Dasan had ordered to run a campaign against those indulged in child labour activity.
Chhattisgarh ChildLine in co-ordination with police and team of women and child development department have raided the factory and a notice was served to the factory owner.
According to Praveen Sonwani, district co-ordinator of ChildLine Raipur, the raid was conducted on Friday at Parle-G company located at Amaseoni and rescued 27 children working inside the factory and manufacturing biscuits. These children belong to parts of Chhattisgarh as well as from other states, Sonwani said.
There were inputs about children in large number working inside Parle factory, the franchise of which belongs to Vimal Khetan of state capital. ChildLine official added that a team had conducted recce following which the premises was raided.
All the children were rescued and presented before Child Welfare Committee and they were being counselled. The children said they were given accommodation inside the factory and had no contact with the outer world. The circumstances under which they were kept and the intricacies of work environment is being found out. The children between the age of 10-16 years are presently staying at shelter home.
Additional superintendent of police Prafful Thakur told TOI that an FIR was lodged against the owners of factory at Vidhan Sabha police station under section 79 of the Juvenile Justice Act and investigation was underway. Thakur said that the punishment for such offence is penalty of Rs 50000 per child and maximum imprisonment of two years.
Further, labour department will intervene once the factory owner is produced at labour office for clarification.
Meanwhile, state commission for child rights chairperson Prabha Dube said that the commission will write to labour department to taken stern action and investigate thoroughly how and from where did these children come to factory and the nature of job they were subjected to do.
When contacted Vimal Khetan, the owner of Parle-G factory, he refused to comment stating, "I will talk about it later".