Sunday, 10 November 2013 – 2:01pm IST | Place: Indore | Agency: dna

Fate of four child labourers who were rescued by the railway police earlier this week hangs in limbo as decision on their custody is yet to be taken.

Parents of children have come from Bihar are waiting for their custody which will only be given to them after the Child Welfare Committee (CWC)'s hearing. In its usual practice, the CWC after hearing the case hands over the custody of children to their parentsimmediately.

But in this case the labour department has decided to determine the age of the rescued children before any decision is made over their custody.

"The children are still with us as their age determination test is yet to be done without which the case cannot be taken to the CWC," said ChidlLine member Manisha Payak.

"This has not been a usual practice of the labour department to carry out the age determination process for rescued child labourers," she added.

However, department officials claimed that it is on account of the ambiguity in their age that the test will be carried out.  "There age is not clear from appearance so we have to carry out the test," said labour official.

Payak said that the parents of two rescued children have arrived. On the other hand, another four children who were rescued from a bag factory at Motitabela towards the end of October have been sent back to their parents in Bihar soon after the CWC's decision.

The Indore CWC has contacted the Bihar CWC seeking rehabilitation of these rescued children.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-fate-of-rescued-child-labourers-hangs-in-balance-1916818