Jajpur, Oct 19: Six children have been rescued who were forced to work as bonded labour in various units in Jajpur district of Odisha, police said on Saturday.
The children, aged between 11 and 14, were forced to work in various units to repay advances taken by their parents.
Acting on a tip-off, the Jajpur district administration on Thursday formed a special task force comprising the district child protection officer (DCPO), local police, revenue officials and members of the child labour vigilance committee.
The task force conducted raids at several locations in the Jajpur Road and Sukinda and rescued the childred.
We conducted raid t several places, including two car wash units, a grocery shop, dhaba, and a goat grazing site, where the children were engaged to settle their families’ debts, said an official.
“The rescued children have been currently lodged in a shelter home and will undergo counselling and rehabilitation to facilitate their social mainstreaming,” said DCPO Niranjan Kar adding that legal proceedings will be initiated against the employer.