Bhubaneswar: Jajpur district administration rescued six children, aged 11 to 14, from bonded labour after a tip-off led to raids on various work sites on Thursday. The children were forced to work to repay family debts.
According to reports, authorities in Jajpur formed a special task force consisting of the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), local police, revenue officials, and members of the Vigilance Committee to liberate the children who were forced to work 14 hours a day with minimal pay to repay family debts.
Aged between 11 and 14, they were even not allowed to take leave until their families’ debts were settled.
The task force conducted raids at several locations, including two car wash units, a grocery shop, a roadside eatery, and a goat grazing site, where the children were found working under harsh conditions.
One rescued boy, Akash Purty from Jharkhand, shared his story. He was brought to work at a car wash units after his father received an advance of Rs 8,000.
“I worked from 7 am to 7 pm but was not paid a proper salary. The owner gave me only Rs 50 a week, which was hardly enough. When I asked to go home, he would verbally abuse me and demand the advance back,” Akash explained.
The rescued children have been currently lodged in a shelter home and will undergo counselling and rehabilitation to facilitate their social mainstreaming.
“The children will receive essential support, including counselling, and reintegration into their families or safer environments,” said DCPO Niranjan Kar.
It is learnt that the district administration will initiate legal proceedings against the employers responsible for exploiting the children.
