Baripada: District collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil Monday launched an action plan to eradicate Mayurbhanj district of child labour, sources said.
Eight special teams have been formed to visit various districts such as Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keonjhar, Angul and Dhenkanal and trace children in the age group of 6-16, who migrated with their families to work as daily wagers. The teams having three to four members in each group would make arrangements for the education of the children at the place from where they are rescued. Alternatively, they can be brought back to the district so that they can resume their studies, officials said.
A special meeting was held Monday in this regard which was presided over by Arindam Dakua, project director of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). The meet was attended by district project coordinator (DPC) Digant Routray of Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan and district child protection officer (DCPO) Mamatamayee Biswal and several other officials who would play a role in the drive.
The teams would be guided by DCPO Biswal, district employment officer Ranjan Mishra and district sports officer Sanatan Sahoo, DPC Routray said.
According to sources, 156 relocated children and 16 child labourers have been identified. Besides, 759 more students have been traced who had taken admission in schools but never turned up for classes. The team would coordinate with the respective collectors, DPCs, DCPOs and CWCs of the district during the rescue operation.
It may be noted that special squads comprising BRCCs and BDOs of 26 blocks of the district raided various garages, hotels, kilns, and dhabas and had rescued 124 child labourers. Encouraged by the positive results, the collector launched the new programme.
The administration is optimistic about the success of the drive, DPC Routray said, adding that by the end of the month the district would be declared as free of child labour.
PNN
