Six minors rescued from child labour trafficking in Mahasamund

Raipur: Six minor boys being transported for child labour were rescued in the Tumgaon police station area of Mahasamund district after the intervention of the Chhattisgarh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Saturday.

The children were allegedly being taken in a pickup vehicle by a band party for labour work.Commission chairperson Varnika Sharma, while travelling to Mahasamund, intercepted the pickup vehicle carrying members of a musical band along with the six minor boys, a commission spokesperson said. She remained at the spot for nearly 45 minutes and directed the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU), District Programme Officer (DPO) and District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) to immediately rescue the children.The rescued boys were taken to Tumgaon police station. Sharma ordered strict legal action against the band party and the driver of the pickup vehicle for their alleged involvement in the incident.She also instructed child protection officials and Childline teams to conduct regular inspections and closely monitor vulnerable areas to prevent such cases. She stated that negligence in matters related to child labour would not be tolerated.

The commission will take formal cognisance of the case under Sections 13 and 14 of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Rules, 2005. Sharma added that the commission remains committed to safeguarding child rights and eliminating child labour across the state.