Shillong, Apr 27: A distress call to a government helpline led to the rescue of a minor who had become trapped in slave-like conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing relief to the victim.
On April 24 a caller to the 1971 helpline reported that a minor from Meghalaya had been stranded in Kashmir and forced to work at a restaurant under exploitative conditions. He was allegedly overworked, denied wages and subjected to abuse. The child had even begun expressing thoughts of self-harm.
Recognising the urgency, the 1971 CM Connect system immediately escalated the case through administrative channels and initiated coordination with authorities in J&K. Officials worked through the night, maintaining continuous communication to ensure swift action.
Within hours, a joint team comprising the Assistant Labour Commissioner and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in J&K located the boy and he was rescued from the establishment and moved to a government shelter home, where he is now safe. An FIR has been registered, a formal inquiry initiated and the employer directed to clear all pending wages.
Since its launch in February 2024, the 1971 initiative has facilitated over 70,000 instances of citizen assistance and nearly 20,000 direct interactions, with the government claiming satisfaction levels of around 95 percent.
