Annual Report 2008-2009
Maharashtra. As per Census 2001 data, Maharashtra has 0.76 million working children. The
National Sample Survey (55th round) data, on the other hand claims that there are 2.4 million
working children in the State. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) household survey that was
undertaken in the year 2004 shows that there were 3.3 lakh out of school children in Maharashtra.
Since all the three surveys were undertaken at different points of time in the State, the estimates
of child labour are bound to vary. Moreover, in the Census and National Sample Survey (NSS),
the age group covered was 5-14 whereas in the SSA the age group covered was 6-14. The Special
Rapporteur is of the opinion that indeed it is a little difficult to straight away come to a conclusion
that all out of school children should be reckoned as working children. Therefore, in order to
make use of available statistics as a tool of action for eradication of child labour, it would be
prudent on the part of Government of Maharashtra to invite senior representatives of Census,
NSS and SSA for a discussion whereby through consensus a definition of child labour is evolved
that would facilitate them in identification and enumeration of child labour within the State.
7.33 Ever since two child labourers were brutally beaten up in April 2005 by their employers
which also resulted in the death of one of them, the Government of Maharashtra, in order to
curb the scourge conducted a number of raids in Dharavi and Govandi to save the children.
Thereafter, it constituted a Task Force consisting of the Commissioner of Labour; Additional
Commissioner of Labour; Deputy Commissioners of Labour of Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbans
(East and West); Regional Deputy Commissioner of Police; District Women and Child
Development Officer; Chief Shop Inspector, BMC; Deputy Chief Shop Inspector and
representatives of three NGOs. The Task Force since 18 May 2005 has conducted 93 raids and
rescued 2,315 working children from 1,228 establishments. A total of 528 employers have also
been arrested on the spot. These raids have made a perceptible difference in Bhuleswar, known
for manufacture of gold ornaments; Madanpura, known for hand embroidery; Dharavi, known
for zari work and leather tanning; Sion Koliwada, known for manufacture of automobile parts;
Kurla (West), Meghwadi Jogeswari and Bharat Nagar, known for hand embroidery work; and
Thakkar Bapa Colony, known for shoe manufacturing.
7.34 It was apprised by the Labour Commissioner to the Special Rapporteur of NHRC that
ever since the Task Force was constituted in Mumbai, the scenario pertaining to child labour
has undergone a sea change and there have been some positive and appreciable results too. He
also outlined the process of rescuing and rehabilitating child labourers. The prime objective of
any raid is to unearth children at the work place and rescue them. Soon after any child is rescued,
his/her custody is handed over to the Department of Women and Child Development who then
produces the child before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) constituted under the Juvenile
Justice Act for the concerned District. On the directions of the CWC, the child is sent to one of
the Children’s Homes. If the child happens to be a migrant working child, he/she is then
repatriated with an escort to their native place and finally restored back to the parents.
Simultaneously, prosecution against the offending employer under the relevant sections of the
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