A run-away child labourer restored to her home

Recently, CHILDLINE received a call from a reporter from Nagaon informing about a girl child being found at ASTC (Assam State Transport Corporation) bus stand. CHILDLINE team reached the place and bought the girl child to CHILDLINE office where she was provided food and further interrogated about her whereabouts.

Pooja belonged to a poor family and lost her parents when she was very young. She lived her cousin sister (a domestic labourer), cousin’s husband (a rickshaw puller) and three children. As the total income of the family was very less (only Rs 5000) she wanted Pooja to help them financially. Therefore Pooja’s sister sent her to Mr. Mehta’s house in Guwahati to work as domestic help. Pooja began working there but later she was tortured by Mr. Mehta and had to do a lot of work. Due to the tough situations, Pooja ran away from Mr. Mehta’s house and landed in Nagaon.

Understanding her situation, CHILDLINE team produced the child before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), General Diary Entry (GDE) was lodged at Sadar Police Station and she was shifted to Govt. Shelter home for a temporary stay. CHILDLINE team counseled the child during which she showed interest in going back to her home in Tinsukia.

CHILDLINE Tinsukia and Tinsukia Sadar Police were contacted to trace child’s home and Home Investigation Report (HIR) was received by CHILDLINE team. After a few days, her cousin sister along with the Police came to CHILDLINE Nagaon office. As per the order of CWC the child was produced and handed over to her cousin sister. CWC Nagaon gave direction to Tinsukia Sadar Police to divert the child to CWC Tinsukia for care and protection of the child.

At present, the girl child is staying at her cousin sister’s home. She never attended the school and showed interest to learn some new skill. With help of CWC, currently she is undertaking a cutting & tailoring course for 5 months.

The main motto of CHILDLINE was to do immediate restoration of the child. The continuous efforts of the CHILDLINE team members made it possible to restore the child to her home as well as ensure good care and protection for her better future.