Bhubaneswar: A total of 283 child labourers were rescued during inspections and raids in Odisha in the last five years, informed Labour & Employees State Insurance Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia.
In a written reply to a question by Independent MLA from Dharmasala Himanshu Sekhar Sahu, Minister Singhkhuntia that in the last five years through inspections and raids, 283 child labourers were identified and rescued in the State. Cases have been registered against 159 organisations in different courts, he added.
The Minister has said that whenever information on the engagement of child labourers in different organisations is received an inquiry is conducted by the Labour Officer and a show cause notice is served to the employer and other legal steps are taken.
In the last year (2023-2024) work of Labour Officers at the district level was reviewed and a directive was issued to expedite rescue and rehabilitation of child labourers in coordination with other departments awareness programmes were organised at the district level with the help of other stakeholders, the Minister added.
