Imphal, March 26 2009: "I don't like to go home but would rather stay in the hotel working here for at home, my father and mother always quarrel with each other", said 11 year old Thoithoi (name changed).

Thoithoi was among the many child labourers before he was rescued by Shillong Childline from a hotel at Shillong.

Thoithoi belongs to a village located near Loktak lake in Bishnupur district.

He is the youngest of seven siblings.

To the misfortune of all his siblings, Thoithoi's father is addicted to ganja while their mother is an alcoholic.

Like Thoithoi, all her elders sisters and brothers have been working in hotels at Imphal or as domestic helpers.

Though is only 11 years old, Thoithoi left home two years back and started working in a hotel located Khwairamband Bazar for about an year.

One day when he was working in the hotel, a truck driver took Thoithoi to Shillong.

Young and gullible as he was, Thoithoi was decieved by the driver's words that he would get lots of money if he (Thoithoi) followed him.

The young boy had no knowledge where he was being taken to.

In the next moment, the driver left him in an unknown place.

Left with no other option for survival, Thoithoi approached a hotel to allow him work there.

Fortunately, the hotel owner informed the Shillong Childline who promptly came to the young boy's rescue.

Subsequently, Childline Manipur was informed about the rescued boy.

In the meantime when Childline Manipur was making arrangements to bring the boy to his native State, Childline Shillong put the child in a children home at Shillong.

Thoithoi was finally brought to Imphal by Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee, Bishnupur district L Pishak on March 20. Speaking to media persons at Palace Compound here today, L Pishak said that re-unification and rehabilitation of victims of child labour and child trafficking with their parents after they have been rescued is one of the fundamental objective of the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act.

Accordingly, Thoithoi has been put in a children home before the condition of Thoithoi's family improves a bit, Pishak said.

But so far there is no sign of any improvement in the condition of Thoithoi's family.

Since earlier, the family has been living in a small house, more precisely a hovel roofed with straw and having a single bed.

According to the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act, each district should have a children home and also observation hall and shelter home, Pishak said.

However, there is no home for housing destitute children in Bishnupur district.

As such, there is no facility at present to house Thoithoi in Bishnupur district, said Pishak adding that Thoithoi would be put in a children home at Imphal.

Speaking to media persons, Thoithoi said that he did not like to go home as their parents quarrel with each every now and then.

"My dada (elder brother) would also scold me if I go back home", he said.

Considering the trauma being experienced by Thoithoi, the boy needs proper counselling, Pishak said while pointing the need for a children home in Bishnupur district.

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