Case Studies
Name – Mehboob Shaikh (Name changed)
Age – 10 years
Education – 5th
Address – Village- Parasa, District- Sukol, Bihar.
Type of case – Child Trafficking
One day, at around 7 PM, a member of our staff from the Thane office noticed a boy, approximately 10 years old, boarding the Khopoli local train from Kalyan station. The child later got off at Ulhasnagar station. Our staff member observed that the boy seemed to be alone and in need of help. They struck up a conversation with him, providing social and psychological support. After some time, the boy revealed that two individuals had brought him from Bihar to Mumbai for work, but they abandoned him at the railway station and ran away. He was trying to find his way back to his village but didn’t know how, and had been wandering around Mumbai.
Following this, our staff took him to the Government Railway Police (GRP) for further assistance. At the GRP, a Woman Police Constable (WPC) interviewed the child and gathered more information about his background. Afterward, the WPC and our staff took the child to a government hospital for a general medical checkup. At 12:10 AM, we admitted him to the Child Care Institution (CCI) in Ulhasnagar for care and protection, with the assistance of GRP staff. The next day, he was presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
We are now working to locate his address and establish contact with his parents so that we can reunite him with his family as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the police are investigating and searching for the individuals who brought the child to Mumbai for work.
Name – Faisal Khan (Name Changed)
Father Name – Abdul Khan (Name Change)
Mother Name – Shakila Khan (Name Change)
Gender – Male
Education – 4th Dropout
Age – 16 Years
Address – Kathmandu, Nepal.
In December, SEVA and the Labour Department conducted a raid and rescue operation at a leather factory in Ulhasnagar, Thane, during which we rescued eight child laborers between the ages of 13 and 17. Faisal was also found working in the same factory, serving as a seamstress and helper. After his rescue, we spoke with Faisal, who revealed that he is from Nepal. A person he knew had brought him to Mumbai for a visit, but instead, he was placed in the factory to work. Faisal expressed that he did not want to work and wanted to return to his hometown. He had been working at the factory for the last six months, having previously attended school in Nepal.
Family Background: Faisal comes from a poor family that faces significant financial challenges. His father is the sole earner, and he has two older sisters who are also attending school in Nepal. Currently, Faisal has been admitted to the Child Care Institution (CCI) in Ulhasnagar, and we have presented him before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
We are continuously following up with the Labour Department regarding his compensation amount, and they are actively working on it. Additionally, we are trying to reach out to his family in Nepal and make arrangements to send him back to his hometown.
Name of the child – Sneha Mukane (Name changed)
Age – 17 years
Education – 8th (Drop out)
Address – Village- Aware, Tq- Shahapur, District- Thane, Maharashtra.
Type of case – Child Marriage.
We learned about this case during our daily awareness activity in the village. One of our community social workers visited the area and noticed preparations for a marriage. Upon inquiring with the villagers, she discovered that a 19-year-old boy was set to marry a 17-year-old girl. Concerned about this situation, our community social worker immediately contacted our District Coordinator for Child Safety (CSA).
Within an hour, our staff, along with the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) team and local police, arrived at the location to verify the information and intervene to stop the child marriage. They obtained an undertaking from the parents, stating that the marriage would not take place until the girl reaches the age of 18 and the boy turns 21.
Following this, the child was presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). We are conducting regular follow-ups on the child and have submitted a report to the CWC. Additionally, we are working to facilitate her re-admission to school.
Name of the child – Raju Naik (Name changed)
Age – 17 years
Education – 10th
Address – Om Sai Chwal Room no.06, Ambarnath District- Thane, Maharashtra.
Type of case – Child Sexual Abuse.
We received this case from the Child Welfare Committee as a Support Person. After receiving the order from the CWC, we established contact with the child’s parents and visited their home in Ambarnath. At that time, the child was not at home, so we spoke with his mother for further details. She provided us with a copy of the FIR statement and requested that we take strict action against the accused. She mentioned that their neighbors and relatives were aware of the incident, which made them feel very embarrassed, and that Raju (name changed) felt very scared.
Afterward, we conducted counseling for the child’s mother and provided her with information about our social psycho-support interventions. We also shared our contact numbers with her for any further assistance.
During our second visit, we counseled the child and tried to help him relax. He expressed that he didn’t want to go to school because of the incident. After some time, we were able to convince him about the importance of education and encouraged him to return to school. We plan to visit his home again for additional support.
