Police probing into selling & employing child at GMC canteen
PTI, PANAJI | 31 March 2012 10:42 IST
Goa government has launched an inquiry after a state-run hospital, Goa Medical College, was found "buying' and employing children in its canteen run by a private contractor.
During a raid this week, the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) had come across a 16-year-old boy from Bihar, who was purportedly sold in the state for Rs 15,000.
The boy was working in a canteen of Goa medical college and hospital near here, which is the state's largest medical facility.
GSCPCR Chairperson Sameera Kazi said the raid was conducted to identify child labourers employed in the canteen.
The boy, she said, walked to the raiding party and requested to be rescued as he wanted to get out from there.
As per the deposition, the boy told authorities that he was sold to a man by his brother for Rs 15,000.
Originally from Bihar, the boy was initially lodged in state-run Apna Ghar as he was found abandoned on the road, two years back.
After staying in the facility, he was repatriated to his brother a year later.
His brother sold him off and eventually was asked to work in a canteen run by a private contractor in the government facility.
The raid by GSCPCR this week had rescued the boy while three other boys managed to run away. The Commission has asked the local police to investigate into the child trafficking angle.
Police inspector Jivba Dalvi said a thorough inquiry would be conducted into the matter. "We will bring to book everyone involved in such rackets," he said.
