Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jan 13: Four youngsters from Odisha, one of them a child labourer, who were allegedly kept confined in a house-turned-baking unit and made to work for long hours, were rescued by child labour officials and activists here on Wednesday January 13.

The youngsters were rescued from Cream Caramel bakers located at Arya Samaj Road in the city. Cream Caramel outlet is located at a petrol bunk near Navbharat circle, Kodialbail. It is owned by Premraj Shetty and Denzil Fernandes.

The raid was conducted jointly by the officials of the child welfare committee, Childline and the police, accompanied by activist Vidya Dinker.

During inquiry, it was revealed that among the four youngsters rescued, three aged 17 were employed in baking business while a girl aged about 12 was employed as a house maid at one of the owner's residence. All of them were brought from Odisha. The three teenagers were reportedly made to work in the owner's residence also, and during the raid, the youngsters said that they were made to work non-stop without even a few minutes break for lunch either.

It is also alleged that they were not allowed to go out or call their family members back in Odisha, and were not given salaries either.

Speaking to daijiworld, Vidya Dinker termed it a case of 'human trafficking' and said, "We received information that human trafficking was going on here. Some tribals and non-tribals from Odisha were brought here and made to work in almost inhuman conditions. They were not allowed to go out, not allowed to call home and they were not given salaries either. After working in the baking unit, they were made to work in the owner's residence also. Even the break for lunch was not more than 10 minutes, and then they were made to work continuously again. They are youngsters and we felt it was not right to make them work this way.

"We want police to take action against the owners under section 370 of IPC (buying or disposing of any person as a slave). The deputy commissioner too should take action under the Bonded Labour Act. The youngsters should be sent back home or rehabilitated, and given full wages for the work they have done. The young girl is aged less than 14 and was previously employed in the baking business, but later shifted to the residence, probably to avoid notice. She too was not given salary," she said, adding that appropriate action should be taken against owners under Juvenile Justice Act.

Asked whether this was a case of bonded labour, she said, "This is a clear case of wrongful confinement. They were brought here with the promise of work, so they were trafficked from Odisha. They were brought by the owners specifically to make them work here. It is clearly a bonded situation as they were given no salaries, were made to work long hours continuously and were not allowed to call anyone. So it is clearly a case of bonded confinement according to us. We will follow up the case and see that appropriate things are done."

A young lady accountant employed at the unit told daijiworld, "I am working as accountant here and I maintain the records of 13 people who are working here. But I am not aware of the salary details of the youngsters."

Speaking to daijiworld, labour officer Mylarappa said, "We need to examine whether they are bonded labourers or child labourers. They will be subjected to medical examination to determine their exact ages and health condition."

Owner Prem Shetty refused to comment.