Hyderabad: Rescued child labourers badly ill

Hyderabad: Thirteen children among the rescued bonded labourers have been shifted to Fever Hospital after an outbreak of chickenpox at the rescue home in Ramanthapur.

Many are suffering from skin diseases and malnutrition after they were exposed to dangerous chemicals and were crammed up in narrow rooms at the manufacturing units. Some kids are suffering from fever and lung problems.

“We have admitted the kids in hospital and they are being given treatment. They were brought today to the hospital after a medical examination at the rescue home,” said a senior doctor.

Read: Hyderabad police rescue 350 child labourers in last one week

Meanwhile, sources said that 300 kids were put up in a single hall at the rescue home in Ramanthapur exposing them to chicken pox.

There are also allegations that the authorities did not conduct medical check-ups after the kids were rescued. Although some kids had symptoms of chickenpox in the beginning they were not given treatment, sources said.

The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed child protection officials to immediately send a medical team to the rescue home.

However, district child protection officer Imthiyas said the kids who were found sick were housed in a separate room and were given treatment. “We could shift them to hospital only today. Before that they were lodged in a sick room,” he said.

As part of rehabilitation the child protection officer has approached the SCR for special coaches to send the kids to Bihar.

“We are in touch with the Women and Child Welfare officer of Bihar and the heads of Social Welfare department. On Monday or Tuesday, depending on availability of coaches, around 200 kids will reach Bihar,” he said.