Child labor comprises any work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity. It is harmful to their physical and mental well-being; additionally, it is any work that interferes with a child’s ability to attend school and/or participate in school fully.

Child labor is one of the biggest humanitarian crises plaguing India. Several million children of the country have been deprived of a proper childhood due to the widespread demand for cheap labor, large-scale human trafficking to meet said demand, and subsequent ruthless, exploitation.

To combat this, we, as an organization, aim to rescue, protect, and offer opportunities for rehabilitation and education to these victims of modern slavery.

How to identify a child laborer:

• Any child below the age of 14 who is employed in a remunerative job.
• Any child up to the age of 14 who doesn’t attend school due to work. Any adolescent, between the age of 14 – 18, employed in any hazardous job.
• Any child or adolescent working between 8:00 PM and 7:00 AM
• Any child or adolescent working in a hazardous, unhealthy, unclean, and/or abusive environment.
• Does not receive a reasonable salary.
• Works for more than three hours at a time without break, and/or works for more than seven hours a day.
• Works at more than one establishment in a single day.
• Experiences some or the other form of mental and/or physical harm or abuse.

Phase I – Investigation
Facts and evidence gathering informers, social workers and volunteers. YCFU staff verifies the information.

Phase II – Pre-Rescue
Communication and coordination with partners including the Labor Department, Juvenile Aid Protection Unit, Local Police, and Crime Bureau Branch if necessary.

Phase III – Rescue
A combined rescue effort including the Crime Branch, Juvenile Aid Protection Unit, Local Police, and YouCanFreeUs staff.

Phase IV – Legal
Support children with investigation, medical exam, case management meeting with CWC / JJ Court and NGO, HIR & case history, care plan and rehabilitation.

Action against perpetrators
Panchanama (eye witness), First Information Report registered, jail or bail determined, presented in front of Magistrate, and report filed.

Phase V – CWC Rehabilitation Process
Aftercare plan and counseling begin, short-term education & training plan set, Home Investigation Report (HIR), JJ Court and CWC guide next steps, family reintegration or long-term aftercare plan decided upon by local home-based office, networking with and assisting local NGOs for rehabilitation and reintegration.