They were sold off by parents

By Our Special Correspondent

MADURAI, JULY 31. The release of 20 child workers from bondage in three different places in Andhra Pradesh by the Madurai-based Society for Community Organisation (SOCO) Trust has revealed another dimension to the racket prevalent in this part of the State. Of the 20 children, at least 18 had been `sold off' to traders by the parents themselves. In the earlier incidents, brokers were involved in procuring children for traders in the northern States.

The children, hailing from Madurai, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Kanyakumari and Virudhunagar districts, have been released from bondage from three places in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh a couple of days ago. All of them were employed by traders of sweets and savouries, hailing from the Usilampatti area in Madurai district. The clue to the bondage was provided by a complainant from Therkutheru village near here to the SOCO Trust which followed it up with the assistance of Mr. P. W. C. Davidar, Special Officer, Bonded Labour Abolition, Tamil Nadu, and Mr. Praveen Kumar, Nellore District Collector. A team of the SOCO Trust, comprising Mr. Francis Xavier and Mr. Mohamed Ali Jinnah, visited Nellore district to trace the bonded children. One trader led to another and the team was able to release 20 children from three places.

The travails of these children, who were brought to Madurai today, are the same. The children, aged between nine and 18 years, used to wake up at 5 a.m. and go to sleep past midnight. Food was supplied twice a day. Any slip on their part at work attracted severe punishment. Ten-year-old A. Mohamed Sheik Fareed of Kanyakumari was branded in the stomach by the trader, Baliah, with a red hot iron when the boy accidentally floored a load of fuel. The child gets terrified even today if anyone utters the name, Baliah.

Mr. Francis Xavier said the traders themselves were behind taking children away to A.P.. The practice of luring parents to give away their children in bondage flourishes during the Tamil month of `Purattasi' when `pongal festival' was celebrated in the temples of the Usilampatti region. The parents were promised several thousands for employing their children and paid some amount as advance. The hapless children take a journey into the unknown along with the traders after the festival.

Among the 20 children, 10 were from the Andipatti taluk of Theni district, that borders Usilampatti. Mr. Lajapati Roy of the SOCO Trust pointed out that there was criticism of release of children from bondage when their parents themselves had willingly sent them for employment.

He said even pledging children was prohibited under the Children (Pledging of Labour) Act 1933. These children were also not registered by their employers under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act of 1979.

The released children have been paid Rs. 1,000 each as interim relief by the Nellore District Collector.

Mr. Davidar has written individual letters to the Collectors of Madurai, Theni, Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts to arrange for the payment of relief of Rs. 19,000 and the children's rehabilitation. These children will be sent to their homes from tomorrow.

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Section  : Southern States
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