60 Children Rescued From Distillery in Horrific Case of Child Labor in Madhya Pradesh

The child rights team found 20 girls among 60 children during a visit to Som Distillery by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). Following complaints, the team discovered that more than 60 children, including 20 girls, were working in hazardous conditions, some with severe chemical burns.

Priyank Kanungo, chairman of the NCPCR, described the conditions as appalling and highlighted the involvement of both child labor and human trafficking. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took immediate action, resulting in the suspension of several officials and the registration of a case under relevant labor laws.

Further investigation revealed that the children were transported to the factory in school buses to evade suspicion, leading to a shocking picture of negligence and collusion. NDTV obtained a letter from the suspended Excise Officer, Kanhaiyalal Atulkar, in which he downplayed the situation.

This incident shed light on the struggles of impoverished families and raised concerns about the effectiveness of regulatory bodies and corruption within the Excise Department. The government’s commitment to addressing the issue was emphasized by BJP spokesperson Ajay Singh Yadav, who stated that officials had been punished and stringent measures would be implemented.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders, such as Youth Congress President Mitendra Singh, accused the administration of failing to protect children, expressing concern over the compromise of the state’s future due to corruption and negligence.