CWC Rajouri retrieved minor boy engaged in child labour & restored to mother at Reasi.

SHYAM SOOD
Rajouri July 02 :–After a communication received from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Reasi that an 11-year-old boy has allegedly been engaged in child labour in a hotel in Rajouri town by his father, Rajouri CWC officials swung into action and within a week’s time traced the boy and restored to his mother at Reasi.
As per reports, the parents of the boy got separated about 10 years ago, and two minor children remained in the custody of the father who reportedly found it difficult to look after them.
To meet the financial requirements, the father used to send the boy to work in hotels or as a domestic helper.
This time he handed over the boy to a hotel owner in Rajouri town against a demand of Rs 3000 per month.
Being aware of the consequences of the Child Labour Act the hotel owner kept the boy at home with his children.
The mother after getting information that her son is working in a hotel in Rajouri, she approached the CWC officials at Reasi in the first week of June.
CWC Reasi officials contacted CWC officials at Rajouri to take cognizence of the case under Juvenile Justice Act 2015.
CWC Rajouri officials first traced the mother and inquired about the complaint which was found genuine.
“Contact was established with the boy’s mother who affirmed the facts and revealed that her ex-husband had been sending the boy regularly for work in different places” said Rajouri CWC In-Charge Chairperson, Anu Radha Sharma.
The case was processed as per the Juvenile Justice Act norms and with the help of Rajouri police the boy was traced.
No action was taken against the hotel owner in this case as he kept the boy at home with his children.
The boy was produced before the officials of CWC where he was providing counselling by Nidhi Sharma on a regular basis.
“During repeated counselling sessions, the boy wished to be restored to his mother instead of the father who repeatedly had exploited him for labour work. Accordingly CWC Reasi Officials were informed and asked to make arrangements so that the boy could be handed over to the mother through District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Rajouri” said Anu Radha Sharma.
Recently DCPU made transportation arrangements and the boy was shifted to Reasi in a company of Nidhi Sharma & a lady police official and finally the Reasi CWC Officials restored the boy to his mother, Anu Radha added.
The case was processed by the members of Rajouri CWC including Shivani Gupta & Anu Radha Sharma.