Beaten, forced to work up to 18 hours: Seven children from Bihar escape Jaipur bangle factory
Jaipur: In a harrowing case of child labour, seven children from Bihar, allegedly forced to work in inhumane conditions at a bangle factory in Jaipur, escaped late Monday night and were found hiding in a graveyard by local residents, police said.
The children, visibly distressed and frightened, were found on Tuesday morning in the Bhatta Basti area. Locals alerted the police control room, after which officials from the Bhatta Basti police station and members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) reached the spot to rescue them, as reported by The Indian Express.
The children had reportedly been trafficked from their villages in Bihar two months ago under the false promise of a trip. Instead, they were made to work for 15 to 18 hours a day in exploitative conditions, allegedly receiving just one meal a day and facing physical abuse if they fell ill.
Initially unwilling to speak due to fear, the children later told the police that a man named Samsad Miya had brought them to Jaipur. Police quoted by TIE said that Miya has since been taken into custody and booked under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Police officials mentioned that child labour remains a prevalent issue in Jaipur’s bangle manufacturing sector. Factory owners exploit children for their small, nimble hands suited to intricate glasswork — and for their lower cost, as they can be paid far less than adult workers.
Vivek Sharma, director of Aasra Foundation Jaipur, which offers legal aid to rescued children, revealed that this is not an isolated incident. “Bangle factory owners in Jaipur traffic children from Bihar for a few thousand rupees. Every year, around 4,000 children are brought to the city to work in these factories, but only 20% are rescued,” TIE quoted him as saying.
Sharma described severe abuse faced by many children in captivity. “We have seen cases where children’s feet were cut with blades to prevent them from escaping. Many children had severe spinal injuries due to working for long hours without a break. It is important for the governments of both Rajasthan and Bihar to come up with a solution to this widespread issue,” he added.
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Woman dies hours after delivery baby girl in Hassan; Family alleges medical negligence
Hassan: The death of a 30-year-old woman within hours of delivering a baby girl has triggered protests in Hassan, with her family alleging medical negligence and delay in treatment.
The deceased has been identified as Shruthi (30), wife of Puneeth of Hanumanahalli village in Hassan taluk. She was originally from K.R. Pet and was working as a guest teacher at the Government Primary School in Chikkagadenahalli. Her husband Puneeth is employed as a bus driver at the K.R. Pet depot.
Shruthi was admitted to the Government Women and Children’s Hospital in Hassan for delivery. She delivered a healthy baby girl through normal delivery. However, soon after childbirth, her health reportedly deteriorated.
Family members alleged that doctors informed them she required a large quantity of blood. They said blood was arranged immediately, but they were later advised to shift her to another hospital for further treatment. As it was Sunday, timely treatment was not provided, the family claimed. Shruthi reportedly died on the way to another hospital.
Her husband Puneeth alleged that negligence on the part of doctors led to the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the newborn baby is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit at the Government Women and Children’s Hospital (HIMS), Hassan. Doctors are said to be monitoring the infant’s condition.
The incident falls under the Hassan Town police station limits. Police have begun collecting information, and further legal action may be taken based on medical records and the post-mortem report.
