Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 10 2008:
Out of 24 girls who have been send through DIC Imphal West for undertaking a training course on toy making at the Institute of Toy Making and Technology, Saltlake in Kolkata, 17 of them returned back alleging that they were being used in activities not related to training programme.
After being selected by the Department of Commerce and Industries for undertaking the four-month long training course at the Institute of Toy Making and Technology, the girls have left Imphal on November 9 last.
However, instead of conducting the 11th batch of the training course for which they have gone in the first place, the girls were being used in other activities of the Institute not related to their training course.
Moreover, as they were also allegedly made to work in the Institute since 7.30 in the morning with no permission for break even for going to toilet and drinking water and telephone to home, besides denial of medical care facilities on the ground that they have not completed two months of stay, out of the 24 girls, 17 of them left the Institute and returned to Imphal on November 28 after arranging ticket fare from whatever money they have.
It is said that the remaining girls stayed back as they have no money.
Talking to mediapersons in this connection at Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai today, the deceived girls who returned home and their guardians said that since the girls have been send for the purpose of undergoing training on toy making, the Institute should conduct the training course.
Instead of that only those who have the knowledge of operating the machines were made to work that also on just one part of the entire toy body while the rest are made to do manual work like lifting materials from here and there, they alleged.
One of the guardians said that if their children are to be treated like servants, the Department should not send them to such training courses in the future.