New Delhi
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has alerted all states and Union Territories to prevent the illegal transport of children after 95 children were rescued in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur District. These children were found attending unregistered madrasas and were subjected to forced labor and abuse.
In a letter to state Chief Secretaries and Administrators, the NCPCR stated that these children were forced to carry bricks, clean toilets, and endured physical and mental abuse. Instead of being enrolled in formal schools, they were confined to unregistered religious institutions, violating their fundamental right to education under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14.
The rescued children, initially transported illegally from Bihar to Uttar Pradesh, were relocated to the Government Children’s Home for Boys in Lucknow after being presented to the Child Welfare Committee in Ayodhya. The NCPCR emphasized that such illegal transport could be considered child trafficking, warranting penalties under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code.
To prevent further incidents, the NCPCR advised states to increase vigilance through regular inspections by District Child Protection Units, Anti-Human Trafficking Units, and Special Juvenile Police Units. Compliance reports must be submitted to the NCPCR within 15 days of receiving the letter.
