Child labourers disappear on day of raid

Labour dept swoops on food joints at Ganeshkhind Road, Model Colony on Children's Day, but minors working there vanish into thin air

When labour department officials raided food joints at Ganeshkind Road and Model Colony on Sunday, they were sure of rescuing child labourers. Except that all the minors fled from the place but for one.

The operation
A team of five officers including two labour officers and three shops inspectors visited the various food stalls at Ganeshkhind Road (University road) and Model Colony.

During their raid at Chatuhshrungi chowpatty, three kids aged 10-13 years were spotted cleaning tables and chopping vegetables. The moment the team landed, other workers at the stalls rushed the kids to a corner. They subsequently ran away from the place.

The Labour Commissioner's officials started questioning the concerned stalls and joint owners, but they denied hiring children as labourers. A shop inspector (name withheld on request) went inside the kitchen and found a boy of about 13 years working there. When the officials asked him his age, the boy claimed to be 18-year-old.

"One of the challenges faced during such raids is the lack of age proof. The boys working claim to be 18 years under the pressure of their 'employers', while on the other side owners of the particular joint or store do not furnish any age proof certificate," said Labour Officer S N Phulane. "In such cases, we ask the shop owners to submit details about the children, including their name, address, age, within seven days or else their licence will be taken away."

But when asked about unlicensed stalls employing minors, he was unable to give any answers.