Authorities in India have launched an inquiry after more than 100 minors were removed from a mushroom-processing facility in Raipur, following action by the National Human Rights Commission. The children, many from Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha, were taken from the site after the intervention of an NHRC member and a complaint filed by the Association for Voluntary Action.
According to the NHRC, the children had been working long hours inside the facility. In a statement posted on X, the NHRC member said the minors were kept as bonded labourers and worked between 12 and 14 hours a day in conditions that included exposure to chemicals such as formaldehyde. He said a large number of the children were tribal minors who had been taken by agents after advance payments and were employed below minimum wage. He added that they were housed in cramped rooms and had restricted movement inside the premises.
The Association for Voluntary Action described the minors as victims of trafficking who faced coercive conditions. During the operation, several children reported working up to 15 hours a day with limited access to proper meals.
The NHRC member expressed concern that enforcement often focuses on intermediaries rather than factory management, stating that this contributes to the continuation of such cases. He urged state authorities to take measures to ensure accountability and to support the rehabilitation process for the children.
The Raipur police stated that an investigation has begun and that actions will follow based on its outcome. The rescued minors were transferred to childcare facilities in Raipur, where support services are being provided.
Source: DaijiWorld
