The Weekly Observer, Volume 13, Issue 1A

Observer The weekly

VOL 1 ISSUE 1

ursday, AUGUST, 29 2013

School faked records of trafficked minors Bhaskar Dutta

ucation Society located in Madie Kaveri Education Society in Madiwala possesses fake records

However, according to the state-

of two minors who were kept in

ment recorded by the Bachpan-

captivity as bonded laborers.

BachaoAndolan, the two sisters

On June 26, 2013 two minor girls

were subjected to a daily regime of

aged twelve years and ten years

domestic work in the paying guest

were rescued from a paying guest

apartment which began at five o

house located at Koramangala. e

clock in the morning and ended at

rescue operation was carried out by

ten o clock at night. Kantli also said

an NGO called the Bachpan-

that when the raid was carried out

BachaoAndolan, the Koramangala

in the apartment, the two girls were

police and the Labour Department.

hiding on the staircase of the sec-

e Kaveri Education Society lo-

ond floor as they had been threat-

cated

possesses

ened by the owner that if they tried

records which state that the two sis-

to contact their parents or any other

ters were enrolled as students of the

resident of the apartment they

school on the 18th of June, eight

would be handed over to the police.

in

Madiwala

days before the rescue operation was carried out.

No help from Police helpline numbers e police helpline number 100 either is continously busy or not answered by anyone.

Page - 2

wala.

e Kaveri Convent Higher Primary School located at aillam

Nivedita and Kanaka(names changed) who were used as bonded laboures and rescued from a paying guest apartment at Koramangala on June 26,2013

According to Vani Kantli of the

Hosur Road Cross in Madiwala is a

BachpanBachaoAndolan who was

part of the Kaveri Education

present at the time of the raid on

Society. According to admission

the apartment, the girls who came

application forms numbered 783

called Mohan. At the time when

Juvenile (Care and Protection of

from Anabala village of Saklesh-

and 784, the two sisters were admit-

the girls were admitted into the

Children) Act 2000.

pura taluk in Karnataka, were

ted into the fih standard of the

school, Fatima was the acting-

Kantli and her colleague Lavan-

brought to Bangalore a year back to

Kaveri Convent Higher Primary

headmistress as the actual head-

nya say that there are numerous

work as domestic laborers. She

School on the 18th of June this year.

mistress was unwell.

such instances of children being

added that the girls had studied till

e date and standard of admission

the fih standard in their village.

have been further confirmed in a

borers within Karnataka. According to them, the principal difficulty

graphic identity records of the

tion Society was served with a sum-

culties associated with the rehabili-

sisters.

mons notice by the Child Welfare

tation of trafficked children and

ree months ago, the girls were

written statement bearing the seal of the headmistress. Despite pos-

woman called Jyoti who owns the

sessing admission records of the

PG apartment in Koramangala.

girls, the school authorities had

eir parents were paid a sum of Rs

never actually met the two girls.

5000 in advance.

Nor did they have any photo-

questioned about the incident, she

trafficked and used as bonded la-

CWC has issued a summons notice to the Kaveri Education Society regarding its possession of fake admission records of two minor girls recued on June 26, 2013.

bought as domestic laborers by a

Aer the raid, when Jyoti was

Subsequently, the Kaveri Educa-

Mandatory fire safey measures not followed No fire safety measures are followed in the BESCOM office even aer having 20 fire breakouts in the last seven months Page- 3

with finding a solution to the problem is “official indifference and a failure

of

the

governmental

system.”

Kantli also emphasizes the diffi-

claimed that the girls were brought

According to one of the school

Committee 2 of the Bangalore Dis-

how very oen, rescued children

to the city for educational purposes

administrators Fatima, the admis-

trict (case number 225) dated 30th

fall prey to vicious cycle of traffick-

and were students at the Kaveri Ed-

sion fees were paid by an individual

of July 2013 under section 33 of the

ing again.

Cattle roam, vendors moan Cattle in KR market eat up vegetables for sale and also add to traffic.

Page 6

e Weekly Observer

27 August 2013

2

No help from police helpline Bangalore Control Room can han-

Ajay Gopalkrishnan, 25, a resi-

dle only 15 calls at a time instead of

dent of Yelahanka, said, “I tried

like101- fire emergency, 103 - traffic

30, which is the prescribed number

calling the police when I was being

police, 1062 - poison control centre,

for any emergency helpline. e

harassed by drunken men at Yela-

1072 - train accident information

other 15 calls go unanswered.

hanka junction but the call re-

and 1097 - the AIDS hotline, re-

mained unanswered.”

main beyond network coverage

Udayashankar, who also brought the current system in practice,

In addition to the problem, adver-

added, “In a city like Bangalore,

tisement boards put up around the

where population is around a crore,

city claim that 108 is a helpline

it is difficult to handle each and

number for medical, fire as well as

every complaint but we are trying

police emergencies but when dialed

our level best.”

it oen responds that it’s a number exclusively for ambulance services.

Apurva Venkat

lines may be busy sometimes.” He

Vidula Gopal, a resident of White

further added, when one calls 100,

Field, said, “I called 108 as I had

Police emergency number 100 ei-

it is directed to the police control

seen a board nearby hoping for

ther remains continuously busy or

room. If the number is busy, a

help. ey bluntly told me this is

is not answered.

recorded message is supposed to

only an ambulance helpline num-

C.R. Udayashankar, Assistant Su-

give alternate numbers 2294, 3100,

ber and no other service would be

perintendent of Police (ASP), Police

3200, 3300 and 10928 to the callers.

provided.”

Control Room, said, “We have 15

e ASP informed, the calls work

lines but only seven telephone op-

according to the ‘hunting method’;

instantaneously

erators and three wireless opera-

they hunt for a free operator and

helpline - 1091, child helpline -1098

tors. Since we are understaffed the

connect to the available line. e

and senior citizen helpline -1090.

e only numbers that respond are,

women

Other

emergency

numbers

area or go unanswered.

Actual system If one calls the emergency number, their complaint is registered.

A flying squad called ‘Chitha’ is sent to the spot. e control room then calls back and finds out if Chitha has reached and provides any further assistance needed. If the number is busy, a recorded message gives the alternate numbers 2294, 3100, 3200, 3300 and 10928 to the callers. is message is continuously repeated until the caller ends the call.

Illegal PGs lead to security problems Bhavika Bhuwalka

made compulsory from August 3,

than one building and illegally earn

A rise in illegally run paying guest

for round the clock surveillance.

close to three lakhs per month.

houses in Bangalore is leading to increasing security problems.

Illegal paying guest houses at Indiranagar.

We only have one caretaker who leaves in the evening. The door is also not locked properly, which can allow anyone to sneak in during the night.”

- Harish, an MBA student

Bhagyalakshmi, Deputy Health

ey have very unclear rules and

Officer, Koramangala said most of

employ no measures for the safety

e upscale localities, Koraman-

the PGs do not obtain a license as

of the tenants. He admitted that

gala and Indiranagar, house presti-

they are unable to acquire a No Ob-

earlier he did not have CCTV cam-

gious institutions and companies.

jection Certificates from their

eras but a guard was always there.

Due to this boom in business, many

neighbors. e owners do not put

He also has the identity and photo

residential properties have con-

up a paying guest board to avoid

proofs of all the students in his

verted into PGs without going

any checking that might take place.

apartment.

through the required formality of

Harish, an MBA student of Christ

Another landlord, Waseem, con-

registering themselves for commer-

college said, “e door is not locked

fessed that in a the case in his PG,

cial use. Out of the 75 PGs in Kora-

properly; anyone can sneak in at

the amount of 40,000 was divided

mangala, only one is registered.

night.” Nitin who works at HDFC ,

into three parts among him, the

eKoramangala police has four

informs that the landlord asks the

victim and the police and the mat-

cases of the registered till August,

tenants to say it is a rented flat oth-

ter was settled. Similarly, by bribing

2013. Expensive itmes like laptops,

erwise they’d be thrown out within

the people who come to collect

gold jewellery and cash worth tj-

a week.

water and electricity bills, he is

housands of ruppees was stolen.

Another student, Nivya, said that

According to Prashant Babu, In-

the receipt of the water and electric-

e BBMP say that they are un-

spector, Koramangala, only 20-30%

ity billsis not given. e security de-

able to regulate authority. Area wise

of PG the cases are solved because

posit is also very high.

lists are being made and notices are

of mobile tracking technology.

saved from a lot of hassle.

Mr. C. Ghose, the owner of a

being sent to the owners regarding

65 notices have been issued to PG

ladies PG and the only one in Ko-

the compulsory installation of

owners, asking them to install

ramangala with a trade licence said

CCTV cameras, the results of

CCTV cameras which have been

that a lot of landlords in own more

which are yet to be seen.

e Weekly Observer

August 29, 2013

Si g n ificant rise in c r i m e against women Mayuri Ravi

3

Records row between police and city bus department Accident records of the BMTC and the traffic police department show different figures

ere has been a considerable in-

Anagha Sawant

crease in crimes against women

registered with the BMTC was 428 and the number of cases with the

in the last six months in Karnataka.

According to the Karnataka

e difference between the num-

Traffic Department against the

ber of accident cases registered

BMTC was 320.

Crime Record Branch, 6196 cases

lence cases go unreported. Most of

tion against the criminals, such

with the Traffic Police and the

of crime against women have been

the women do not file a case either

crimes would decrease.

BMTC has been noted as 74 this

authority against their drivers in

reported till June 2013. 1669 cases

due to family pressure or for the

year.

the accident cases depends on the

have been reportered under the

sake of their children.”

‘Cruelty by husband or relatives of husband’ category.

Ms Donna Fernandes, founder of Vimochana, a woman’s organi-

According to the statistics with

e action taken by the BMTC

background record of the driver.

zation said: “On an average we get

the Bangalore Metropolitan Trans-

Prakash.G,Chief Manager of Traf-

ernment employee in Bangalore

50 cases per month. We handle

port Corporation (BMTC), the

fic ,BMTC, commenting on the

Another victim, *Jyoti, 36, a gov-

452 cases had been reported

was being physically abused by her

cases at the community level. We

number of accident cases regis-

measures taken by them about the

under this section in 2011, while

husband for over a year. Now they

try to work outside the legal

tered this year is 249 and accord-

accidents said, “ We put the driv-

in 2012 it was 524. Significantly,

are divorced but she has never reg-

framework because the system is

ing to the Traffic Police, the

ers in the training course. Each

cases have risen by 1145 in 2013.

istered a police complaint against

caught up in technical procedures.

number of accidents cases regis-

depot head addresses the drivers

him. She said: “ere are times

We try to work out the issue and

tered against BMTC is 166.

in the morning before they start

sibility of crimes against women

when I have thought of registering

engage both the parties.”

increasing in the state.

a complaint but I couldn’t because

e statistics represents the pos-

She added: “We try to look at the

e difference between the num-

their duty on safe-driving. In case

ber of accident cases registered

of fatal accidents committed by

he threatened to kill himself and

logical aspects as well as the emo-

with the BMTC and the Traffic Po-

the drivers, a suspension letter is

violence, complains that she had

our kids. I was forced to keep

tional aspects of it. e society is

lice last year differed by 108. e

given to them within 24 hours.”

filed cases against her husband for

quiet.”

changing rapidly and human val-

total number of accident cases

*Seema, 33, a victim of domestic

dowry harassment in two police

Mr. Mahesh M, Legal Counsella-

ues are being sidelined. is is

stations and both the stations ac-

tor and Advocate, Bangalore Civil

why domestic violence will not

cepted bribe from her husband.

Court, said, “I get around 20 to 30

end anytime in the near future.”

Even her lawyer was bribed and

domestic violence and dowry ha-

was asked not to present any proof

rassment cases per day. ere is

against her husband in the court.

something called a Private Com-

“I get around 20 to 30 domestic violence and dowry harassment cases per day”

She further added, “e police do

plaint Register under Section 200

not take immediate action against

which helps women get justice

the accused which gives them

quickly.” He also said that if the

confidence. Many domestic vio-

police officials take immediate ac-

- Mr. Mahesh M, Legal Counsellator and Advocate *Name changed

Gove rn m e n t o ffi c es po se fire r isk Ishan Bhattacharya

mission and Karnataka State Com-

A building housing government

mission of Schedule Caste and

“ere were no deaths or injuries

with the minimum standards of fire

offices is flouting fire safety regu-

Schedule Tribe work from the

in these incidents,” Devarahosahalli

precaution as it has neither a fire

lations.

building.

Raghu, fire man at the Office of the

exit and nor a single fire extin-

Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Bangalore

guisher.

Four government offices includ-

Although there have been no re-

ing the state electricity company

ported fires at the Bhavan, 20 fires

run offices from within Maharshi

have been reported around it in the

ArAvinda Bhavan but it has no fire

last seven-and-a-half months.

safety equipment.

Exposed wires sprout from circuit boxes.

at the CFO’s office said.

West, added.

e building also fails to comply

“It is mandatory for every build-

According to documents pro-

ing to have fire exit signs which lead

vided by the Office of the CFO,

outside the building. Fire alarms at

“No one has ever complained

these 20 incidents have caused

every floor are also a must have in

about the poor fire safety measures

losses of property amounting to Rs

government and private offices,”

in this building,” Shaghidhara.G,

9,26,400.

another fire man at the same office

Indian law states that there should

Junior Engineer at BESCOM, said.

“e main reasons behind fire

be a fire safety equipment at the exit

“Twenty incidents of fire were re-

break outs in the area are short cir-

“Fire alarms should also be pres-

of a building and a seperate fire exit.

ported in the past seven and a half

cuits in buildings and car batteries,”

ent in government and private of-

BESCOM, Karnataka State Com-

months near KR Circle," a fire man

Raghu said.

fices,” he added.

Exposed wires inside the Maharshi Aravinda Bhavan

said.

e Weekly Observer

August 29, 2013

4

Five buildings collapse in one month: Lives of laborers risked due to negliAurosmita Acharya

comes through and punches the

permission for more than two

ground leading to collapse of a

storeys to be built.

Sixty-five daily wage laborers

column and then pulling down the

B S C Rao explained: “Modern

have been physically injured and

entire building. e collapse led to

construction is being done very

nine killed in the last month due

the death of six laborers and 35

rapidly and therefore the turn-

to building collapses.

others being injured.

around time between one floor

ere were five building col-

According to Koteshwara, the

and another, which has to be 28

lapses in five different places in

contractor appointed by BBMP to

days, has been reduced to seven

Bangalore in the last month. e

clean up these sites, there has been

days. In order to balance the load

building collapse on July 21st at

a violation of law as the construc-

every floor needs to be centered

tions in Kengeri Satellite Town

for which proper analysis is cru-

and BTM Layout commenced

cial. Very oen to save cost and

without prior permission of the

save material the owners as well as

Dwarkanagar injured four laborers who were treated at the Yelahanka

e debris of the Bande Mutt building collapse being cleared

government hospital. Muniappa, a resident of the area of the building

under construction by the Bande

proper placing of poles, not brac-

BBMP. Also, the buildings con-

the contractors do not center all

collapse, said: “e Bruhat Banga-

Mutt collapsed in Kengeri Satellite

ing the supporting poles, or trying

structed at Bharatinagar and

the floors. Such negligence leads

lore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP)

Town on August 4th leading to

to save on poles by reducing the

Someshwara Nagar do not have

to cascading failure.”

has stalled all activities at the site.”

death of three laborers and leav-

numbers of poles needed, are

e collapse of a wall of a three

ing16 others injured. N. Nagaraj,

some of the reasons that lead to

storeyed building in Bharathina-

the contractor, who has recently

the collapse of the building.”

gar on July 24th was because of an

been released on bail, said that an

excavation at the construction site

error in aligning the center in one

the collapse of an eight storeyed

beside it. Subha, 29 and Narang,

straight line for it to bear the load,

building in Someshwara Nagar on

33, who are tenants in the building

led to the collapse of the building.

August 19th. According to B S C

An apartment under construc-

Rao, the collapse occurred as the

said: “e foundation of this

e latest of such incidents was

building is not enough for a three

tion in the BTM Layout fell on

design of the foundation was suit-

storey building to sustain for long.

August 11th because of the col-

able for only two floors and they

e vibration generated by the

lapse in the centering of the sec-

ended up building six more floors.

earth mover in the neighboring

ond floor, injuring five laborers in

is was done without any per-

area pulled down the wall of our

the process. B S C Rao, Chairman

mission and hence, was illegal.

building.”

of Association of Consulting Civil

Rao added that this is called a

e roof of a wedding hall,

Engineers (ACCE), said, “Im-

‘punching failure,’ where the load

e ruins of an eight storey building in Someshwara Nagar, which collapsed on August 19

Kempambudhi lake’s fate left in the lurch as BBMP fails to take action Anannya Sarkar

ment area and also supplied

the lake.

drinking water to the locality.

According to the Chief Engineer,

Renovation plans for Kempam-

Chandrappa, 64, who has been

budhi lake have remained stag-

working as a security guard there

treated water from the STP to be

nant for years due to the inaction

ever since the lake closed down for

diverted back into the lake. He

by the municipal corporation.

the new proposal includes the

renovation and restoration, said

said that the BWSSB is ready to

e lake has been closed down

that he is the only constant factor

give the water but have laid down

in the name of renovation for over

throughout the process as the pri-

a condition for the BBMP. e

10 years now by the Bruhat Ban-

vate companies assigned to the

condition is that the BBMP will

galore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP).

task by the BBMP keep leaving

lay down the pipeline, incurring a

It was announced by the BBMP

due to disputes with the corpora-

cost of 30-50 lacs. is will be ap-

last year in May that the lake

tion. At present, only a park lo-

proved only aer the budget ses-

would be converted into a tourist

cated just beside the lake has been

spot, complete with boating facili-

completed but requires labor for

ties. But on visiting the lake, one is

proper maintenance.

greeted by locked gates and guards asking you to leave. e lake is one of the oldest in

Mahesh, 28, a local, said that the lake has been reduced to a sewerage that emits foul odor and

e accumulated garbage, still waiting to be cleaned, clog the lake

sion.

Basavanagudi constituency, where

the lake is in the process of formu-

maintenance of the park involving

the lake is located, was unavailable

lation, the budget of which will

6 laborers per day has been sub-

for comment.

soon be submitted for approval.

mitted a month back to the

He added that a proposal for the

e Chief Engineer, Chickpet of-

A Sewerage Treatment Plant

BBMP chief engineer for the south

the city and was constructed by

breeds mosquitoes, causing prob-

fice, said that at present, a pro-

(STP) run by the Bangalore Water

zone, meaning which, the fate of

Kempe Gowda, the founder of

lems to the locals. K. Chan-

posal for the desiltation,

Supply and Sewerage Board

the lake still remained uncertain.

Bangalore. It served as a catch-

drashekhar, Coporator of the

restoration and maintenance of

(BWSSB) treats the waste water of

e Weekly Observer

August 29, 2013

5

Cattle roam, vendors moan in vegetable market

C ity marke t w itn ess c ows e ating up f resh and waste ve g atbl es that are for s a l e. morning and take them back only Gaurav Kumar In one of the

at the night .e Vendors’ version is

busiest markets and roads of Ban-

also supported by the S.H.O. of

galore, cattle compete with people

Jayangar police station, who was

for survival, with poor people sell-

also posted in Kailashi Palyam Po-

ing vegetables and hungry cattle

lice Station earlier. He dubbed these

feeding on them.

cattle owners as the “Cow Mafia”.

e Kalasipalyam Wholesale Veg-

e vendors were not forthcom-

etable Market and City Market,

ing in giving names because of frus-

along with the adjoining roads,

tration. “Even earlier many people

have become a second home for

have come asking about the issue

cattle. Estimates about the number

but nothing has changed. So why

of animals feeding on the fresh as

should I tell you the name?” asked

well as waste vegetables in the mar-

a female vendor based in City Mar-

ket varied between 20, according to

ket.

the local police, to 800, according to the vendors.

A casual visit to the venue made it easily apparent that the problem is

A cow passes by a TATA Sumo, causing inconvenience for

in December 2012, which men-

e sellers have also alleged that these goons bribe the Regulatory Market Committee officials, who

persistent and the numbers are no

are responsible for looking into the A young boy comes running to chase away a cow trying to eat vegetables at market. complaint of vegetable sellers, to

less than 300 on any given day. e

“manage things”. On the other

tioned all the trouble caused by the

scribed penalty to the owners of

availability of fodder in Bangalore

sight of cattle feeding on fresh veg-

hand, RMC officials put the entire

cattle to the general public and re-

impounded cows and calves is Rs

as the reason behind cattle being

etables, cows becoming hindrance

blame on Bruhut Bangalore Ma-

quested municipal body to take

100 and 50 for each day respec-

le on their own to fend for them-

for all sort of vehicles on the middle

hanagara Palike for not doing its

care of it. “But BBMP has not taken

tively, which doesn’t have any deter-

selves.

of the road, are obvious.

job properly.

any measures to address these is-

rence value, and the cattle owners

He also highlighted the oen neg-

sues,” said the SHO.

find the risk to be worth it. He ad-

lected issue of sufferings by cattle

e dispute is not only about the

When asked about their respon-

number of cattle but also about

sibility towards protecting the veg-

e BBMP cited non-availability

vocated a higher fine as a solution

due to indifference of police, and

who owns them. e Station House

etable sellers from goons, the SHO

of funds, functionaries and technol-

for this problem, though he didn’t

showed a complaint filed by BBMP

Officers of both the Kalasipalyam

of Kailashi Palyam market, V.

ogy as the reason behind inaction.

rule out other ideas. He cited the

to the K.P. Police Station last year,

and K.R. Market (under whose ju-

Narayanswamy, denied the exis-

e Joint Director Animal Hus-

statistics of the previous year to

according to which the police de-

risdiction comes the City Market)

tence of any rowdy elements and

bandry, BBMP, Dr Parviz Ahmed

buttress his point- “In the year

partment was asked to invoke the

claim that the animals come from

says that even if there are any anti-

Piran, said that more personnel and

2012-13 only 1438 animals (with an

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

small-time cattle owners. One the

social elements, the people will

new equipment like a hydraulic sys-

average of four animals a day) were

act, against people hurting the cat-

other hand, more than a dozen ven-

have to file F.I.R. in order to take

tem to ease the liing and drop-

impounded and consequently only

tle. “e police are yet to address

dors claim that a few goons are the

any action. At the same time he

ping of the cattle in the vehicle, is

Rs 92165 could be collected.

the issue,” he said.

owners and they leave their cattle in

spoke

necessary.

the market to feed early in the

complaint letter sent to the BBMP

about

a

request-cum-

He further said that the pre-

Dr. Piran was more sympathetic to the cause of cattle and cited un-

e Weekly Observer

August 29, 2013

6

Underage children struggling on the streets Poverty steals innocence as children are forced to beg and work on the streets for money Nibedita Mohanta An NGO in Bangalore has been fighting against child labor for the last 18 years.

Mafeeda Begam, president of the AGA foundation, has run her organization for the last 18 years. In a rescue operation in 2010, four childrenbegging on a railway station platform along with their mother, were rescued by the foundation.

She recently rescued 18 children from the streets of Ramnagar. ey have been admitted to a government school and are being provided with clothes, shelter, books and

At an age when they should play with balloons, these children are forced to sell them on the roads

food.

Another 12 children, of which five

came from Madhya Pradesh with

day and sleep on the street at night.”

food on the street in order to aid his

are girls and seven are boys, are

my family four years ago. Since

e children were reluctant to re-

family. His daily earnings amount

Raju sells food to make a living

currently working on the streets of

then, we are selling balloons and

veal the identity of the person re-

to Rs 500 a day.

faces with these underage children

Vijayanagar as vendors and beg-

earning roughly Rs.200 per day. In

ferred to as ‘Sir’.

gars.

the evening our ‘Sir’ comes and collects the money. We sell balloons all

Pooja, 12, (name changed) said, “I

Mrs. Begam takes full responsibly

is that they are not approachable as

Rahul, 14, (name changed) said

of the children rescued by her or-

they keep shiing their place and

that he is working as a seller of fast

ganization but the problem she

are difficult to track.

Minor found working in incense stick factory; rescued Pranay Lakshminarasimhan

iar with English and knows how to

A 12-year-old girl was rescued by

read and write.”

Padmaja said that organizations

a well-known NGO from an in-

ernment run school.

While on the topic, Padmaja said that people should me more

cense stick factory, aer working

like incense stick factories hire

proactive about the issue of child

there for more than a year.

children like Ashwini because the

labor and child rights violations

skill required is usually found

and that they should take the ini-

old girl from Anandapuram in

within the delicate hands of chil-

tiative of calling the child helpline

Bangalore, worked at Hamsa

dren below the age of 15. She also

whenever they see a child being

Agarbatti Works, an incense stick

gave numerous other examples of

made to work.

factory in her area. APSA, an

such cases that she had encoun-

NGO based in the city, got a tip off

tered in the past.

Aditi (name changed), a 12-year-

about her job and she was rescued from there six months ago.

Rescued girl and her classmate with the principal of Namma Mane

In Namma Mane, Aditi is cur-

She added that children in such cases are being paid something like Rs. 200 for a week’s work,

rently learning subjects like math

which was less than half of what

and general science along with

adults got paid- around Rs. 1000.

Aditi said that she recalls her

SICHREM, an NGO dealing

time at the factory vividly. She

with human rights violations,

school said that Aditi has made re-

participating in extra-curricular

“Only recently has this awakening

said: “My mother forced me to go

spotted her and let APSA know

markable progress in her time

activities like sports and playing

taken place among the public and

and work there. She also insisted

about it. Aer her rescue, she was

there. She said: “She went to a gov-

musical instruments. According to

children that they are supposed to

that I take my sister, who was a

duly rehabilitated into a school

ernment school before being

Padmaja, she will be rehabilitated

receive proper education and not

toddler, along with me to work

run by APSA called Namma

pulled out and forced to work in

to a regular school by next year di-

earn a living at such a tender age,”

and take care of her all day.”

Mane.

the factory. at is why she’s famil-

rectly into the 7th grade at a gov-

said Padmaja.

Sawant, Nikita Narvekar Proof Reader – Bhavika Bhuwalka

Email – editor@iijnm.org

Padmaja, the principal of the

Observer Team Editor - Gaurav Kumar Chief Sub Editor – Apurva Venkat Sub Editors – Anannya Sarkar,

Ishaan Bhattacharya, Nibedita Mohanta, Pranay Lakshminarasimhan.

News Editors –

Aurosmita Acharya,Bhaskar Dutta, Karishma Ravindran.

Graphic Design - Anand Jain Photo Editor - Mayuri Ravi Layout Design – Anagha

Special Correspondent Chitarth M, Neha Singh.

An IIJNM Publication (For private circulation)