As many as 39 minor children being transported for labour on trains have been rescued in three joint operations at Ambala Cantonment railway station over the span of one week, according to officials.
Operations Led by Zila Yuva Vikas Sangathan
The children were rescued from the Jan Nayak Express and Karmabhoomi Express in coordinated efforts by the Zila Yuva Vikas Sangathan, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), and other concerned departments. The children were reportedly being taken for paddy transplantation and work in various factories.
According to Ajay Tiwari, programme coordinator of the Sangathan, on June 12, children were rescued from the Jan Nayak Express. They were being transported for labour work at multiple locations in Punjab. Upon receiving a tip-off, a joint operation was launched, leading to the rescue.
Details of Rescued Children
During preliminary inquiries, the children disclosed they were being taken to different destinations in Punjab for labour. Three children were destined for a garment factory in Ludhiana with a promised monthly salary of Rs 13,000, and they had already received an advance payment of Rs 10,000. Four other children were headed to Samana, Punjab, for paddy transplantation work at Rs 600 per day. The remaining children were also being transported for employment at various locations.
Similarly, on June 15, seven more children were rescued from the Jan Nayak Express, also bound for Punjab. Of these, two were being taken to a garment factory in Ludhiana with offers of Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per month, while the other five were to work as daily wagers in Jalandhar and Pathankot.
Third Operation on June 18
Tiwari further stated that following a tip-off received on June 18, another joint operation was launched, this time rescuing 20 children from the Karmabhoomi Express. Among them, four were being sent to a factory in Bathinda, and the remaining 16 were being taken to Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Pathankot to work as daily wagers.
Post-Rescue Procedures
After completing the DDR (Daily Diary Report) and medical formalities, all children were produced before the Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Ambala. Subsequently, they were sent to the Open Shelter Home, Ambala Cantonment, for care and protection. They are being handed over to their respective families.
Paramjit Singh Badola, President of the Zila Yuva Vikas Sangathan, stated that most of the rescued children belonged to various districts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
