In joint efforts of the Child Welfare Council and the district labour authorities, 16 child labourers working in different commercial establishments in the jurisdiction of the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC) were rescued on Saturday. While the age of six child labourers is less than 14 years, that of the remaining ten is more than that, sources said.
After a surprise raid conducted by a team of eight in eight different garages and fast food centres located at Gandhinagar-Ramalingam Tank Road, the busiest place in the city, the child labourers were rescued and kept in Child line.
Soon, cases would be registered according to the Child labour Act and stringent action would be initiated against the owners of the commercial establishments, said Assistant labour Commissioner Nilambara Mishal. Attempts would be made to settle the children under various schemes only after due consultation with their parents, he added.
Members in the rescue team included Child Welfare Council Chairperson Subash Chandra Das, Assistant labour Officer Sibanarayan Sahu, District Child Protection Officer Subodh Kumar Sadangi and Town police station IIC Nihar Ranjan Pradhan. Such raids would be more rigorous in the coming days, said the Assistant labour Commissioner.