Hyderabad: 80 child labourers rescued

Hyderabad: Childline officials and the police rescued 80 children from brick kilns and tile units in RR district in January. Most of the children are sons and daughters of migrant labourers from Odisha, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Some are orphans from RR district.

The children were exposed to harsh conditions under the sun. Unlike in the bangle units of Hyderabad, the children are exposed to danger in the brick kilns of Tandur, Pargi, Chevella and Vikarabad.

All the rescued kids are aged between four and 14. Some are paid a small amount, but most of them, whose parents are working in the same units, are not paid at all.  

After the rescue, the orphans from the villages in RR district told the police that they had to support their grandparents. The kids of migrant labourers said they were made to believe they were just helping parents. “The parents and kiln owners encourage kids to work without pay. If both parents and a child work, the owner will pay Rs 500 a day,” said a senior police official.