Child workers rescued from eateries in Odisha

    Berhampur, Feb 19 (PTI) Seven child labourers have
been rescued from eateries in Baidyanathpur area by a task
force set up by the Ganjam district administration in Odisha,
officials said.
    Five children belonged to Ganjam district while the
rest were from neighbouring Gajapati district, they said.
    The task force comprising the district labour officer
(DLO), Berhampur, a member of the district child welfare
committee (CWC), the district child protection officer (DCPO),
member of Childline, Berhampur and the police conducted raids
in several hotels and fast-food centres within Baidyanathpur
police station limits on Tuesday.
    "The children were rescued from at least five
eateries.
    "We will verify the age of the children. If their age
is found to be below 14 years, we will register case against
the owners of the eateries under the Child Labour (Prohibition
and Regulation) Act for engaging them as labourers," said
Berhampur DLO Babulal Patra.
    The district task force would conduct raids in
different areas of the city in the next few days.
    The raids will continue till the end of this month to
rescue child labourers as part of the campaign, "Action Month
against Child Labour", sources said.
    Ganjam district collector Vijay Amruta Kulange has
asked the task force to conduct frequent and surprise raids in
establishments where children are employed.
    On February 9, two children were rescued from a
brick-kiln at Jhugudi, near here. The children were from
Bolangir district, the sources said. PTI COR SKN
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)