Jalpaiguri tea garden kids head state child rights body for a day
Times of India | 31 July 2025
Kolkata: Rishika Sabar (16) took on the role of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) chairperson for a day on World Anti-Trafficking Day on Wednesday. Two class IX students, Khushbu Munda and Sasikant Gowala, also became members of the commission for a day. The three are from tea gardens in Jalpaiguri district.
Panel officials said tea gardens are vulnerable to human trafficking, exploitation, and child rights violations, and the move was meant to highlight the youngsters' leadership skills.
Sabar is from Ghatia Tea Garden and is a child representative at Village Level Child Protection Committee (VLCPC). Munda is from the Chilgu Line of Ghatia Tea Garden, and Gowala is from Debpara Tea Garden, Jalpaiguri. Sabar, who studies in class 11, said, "We work to save kids from child labour and look after them.
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The three children consulted other youngsters from 15 different tea gardens in the Nagrakata and Banarhat regions in Jalpaiguri and drafted a charter of demands, which includes quality education, regular school bus services, and installation of street lights, among others. WBCPCR chairperson Tulika Das, said, "We have chosen kids from these areas so we can understand their challenges and change the situation.