Shocking Rescue: 44 Children Found in Pickup, Being Transported for Forced Labor

In a heart-wrenching incident in Kota, Rajasthan, 44 child laborers were rescued from a pickup truck where they were being transported like cattle. The children, packed tightly in the vehicle, were headed to work at a mass marriage ceremony, where they were promised a daily wage of just Rs 300. Due to the scorching heat and overcrowding, many of the children fell ill, with some vomiting from hunger and dehydration.

Guardian Officer Dinesh Sharma explained that Shivraj Contractor and the pickup driver had picked up the children from Banjara colony in Devpura village, Sorsan, Baran district, before heading towards Girdharpura for the marriage function. The conditions in the pickup were so severe that many children started suffering from heatstroke, and their health rapidly deteriorated.

Upon receiving information about the situation, the Child Welfare Committee acted swiftly. District officials, including District Collector Dr. Ravindra Goswami and Superintendent of Police Dr. Amrita Duhan, were notified. A rescue team, led by Protection Officer Dinesh Sharma, Assistant Director Ramraj Meena, and other workers, intercepted the pickup near Saraswati Colony on Baran Road. The driver and conductor were taken to the police station, and a formal complaint was filed by the Child Welfare Officer.

After legal action, the children were provided food and tea to help stabilize their condition. It was revealed that the children were supposed to receive Rs 300 each for their labor at the mass marriage event, but their physical state had prevented them from even starting the work.

The incident has sparked outrage, highlighting the ongoing issue of child labor and the inhumane treatment of minors. Authorities have vowed to take further action to prevent such exploitation.