A total of 14 children, who were allegedly being trafficked to Punjab for labour, were rescued from two trains at Ambala Cantonment Railway Station over the past two days. On Wednesday night, eight minor boys being transported to Ludhiana, Khanna and Patiala aboard the Jan Nayak Express (15211) were rescued. On Thursday evening, six more children being taken to different locations in Punjab for labour via the Karambhoomi Express (12407) were also rescued.As per the information, after receiving information through the Just Rights For Children Alliance, the team of Zila Yuva Vikas Sangathan in a joint operation with the Government Railway Police, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, and Railway Protection Force Ambala Cantonment, conducted the inspections and rescued the children.Sangathan’s Programme Coordinator Ajay Tiwari said informed that following the information that some children are being taken to Punjab through the train, a joint rescue operation was conducted at around 10 PM on Wednesday night. During the special checking drive, eight children were safely rescued. During preliminary inquiry, the children revealed that they were being taken to different locations in Punjab for labour. Four of the children were reportedly being sent to Ludhiana with a promise of a monthly wage of Rs 8,000, while the remaining children had been called for work in places such as Khanna, Patiala, and other locations.Similarly, on Thursday evening, the joint team conducted a special checking operation on the train, during which six children were safely rescued. The children revealed that two of them were reportedly being sent to Ludhiana with the promise of a daily wage of Rs 500, while the remaining four children had been called to Patiala and other locations for work.After completing the DDRs and medical formalities, all rescued children were produced before Ranjeeta Sachdeva, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Ambala. The children have been placed at the Open Shelter Home, Ambala Cantonment, for care and protection.Sangathan’s president Paramjeet Singh Badola informed that the organisation acted swiftly in coordination with the concerned authorities, resulting in the safe rescue of the children. Efforts are underway to trace and contact their families. Preliminary information suggests that most of the rescued children belong to various districts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.“As many as five such rescue operations have been conducted over the last 20 days. The children were being taken in the past, too, but now we are getting the credible information more frequently, due to which we have been able to rescue them. It is also being observed that the demand of child labour is rising as they are given just a few thousand rupees and they work for 10 to 12 hours a day. The labour contractors have been minting money while the children are being exploited,” Paramjeet Singh said.He further said that collective efforts are required to raise awareness to rescue children from exploitation. The government agencies, social organisations, and the public must work together for the protection and rehabilitation of such children.