Mumbai: In a joint operation conducted by the Labour Department and Mumbai Police, three child labourers were rescued from a bag manufacturing unit in the Govandi area of Mumbai. The minors, originally from Bihar and Nepal, were found engaged in hardwork in violation of child protection laws.
The operation was initiated following a tip-off received by Ms. Sheetal Aivale, 30, a Government Labour Officer from the Office of the Deputy Labour Commissioner (Mumbai Suburban East). The information was provided by the NGO Pratham, which reported the presence of underage workers in a factory located within the jurisdiction of Shivaji Nagar Police Station.
A team comprising labour officials, police personnel, municipal authorities, and representatives of Pratham conducted a raid 12:30 PM on June 3, on Z. K. Collection Bag Factory in Padma Nagar, Bainganwadi, Govandi.
During the raid, the team discovered three underage boys working at the unit—an eight-year-old and a thirteen-year-old from Bihar, and a sixteen-year-old from Nepal. The children were reportedly engaged in cutting threads for bags, a form of manual labour prohibited for minors.
Factory owner Naushad Din Mohammad Ansari, 34, a native of Champaran, Bihar, was taken into custody at the scene. A case has been registered against him under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act at Shivaji Nagar Police Station.
Authorities have assured that the rescued children will be provided with rehabilitation and appropriate support as per child welfare protocols.
