LIFE IN AGONY: Child labourer Kumaran from Tamil Nadu, who was rescued from a bakery in Hyderabad on Saturday. -- Photo G. Krishnaswamy

HYDERABAD: Officials rescued three children who were employed in the Bangalore Iyengar Bakery near Odeon theatre at RTC Cross roads and shifted them to the transit home. One of the children, who sustained serious burns all over his body was found kneading dough, for making bread, at the time of the raid. The child identified as Kumaran, (12) sustained burns when hot milk fell on him a week ago. The employer had taken him to a hospital where he was prescribed some medicines and an ointment. Though the injuries did not heal, he was made to work in the bakery, National Child Labour Project (NCLP) district coordinator Abdul Rehman said.

Tip-off

The other two children were Tamil Selvan (13) and Vijaykanth (14). The trio from Thirupadhur of Vellur in Tamil Nadu, were employed by Chandra Kumaran, the bakery proprietor.

On a tip-off, teams of NCLP and Hyderabad Council of Human Welfare (HCHW), a voluntary organisation, raided the bakery. The children told the officials that they were made to work in the house of the bakery owner.

"I have been forced to work despite sustaining burns," Kumaran told the raid teams. The children were being paid Rs.1,500 per month each.

The bakery owner pleaded ignorance of law against employing children when he was questioned. The Chikkadpally police registered a case against him following a complaint lodged by the HCHW and the NCLP.

Kumaran who lost his father was a school dropout. Pecuniary problems drove Tamil Selvan and Vijaykanth to work as child labourers.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail