Jajpur: In a swift and decisive operation, the Jajpur district administration successfully rescued six children who were subjected to bonded labour in various local units. The rescue operation was launched on Thursday following a tip-off and involved a special task force comprising the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), local police, revenue officials, and members of the Vigilance Committee.
The task force conducted raids at multiple locations, including two car wash units, a grocery shop, a dhaba, and a goat grazing site, where the children, aged between 11 and 14, were found working under exploitative conditions. These children had been forced into bonded labour to repay advances taken by their parents, a practice that, while illegal, persists in many parts of the state.
The rescued children reported working over 14 hours a day for minimal pay, often with restricted movement, in a desperate attempt to settle their families’ debts. They were not allowed to seek other employment until their outstanding debts were fully repaid.
Akash Purty, one of the rescued boys from Jharkhand, recounted his harrowing experience. He explained that the owner of the car wash facility had lured him into work by paying his father a sum of Rs 8,000. “I was made to work from 7 am to 7 pm without any salary. The owner would give me only Rs 50 a week, which was practically worthless. I begged him to let me return home, but he would verbally abuse me and insist I repay the advance if I wanted to leave,” said Akash.
Another child, Laxman Chattar, shared a troubling incident where his employer forcibly removed a POP cast from his injured hand, demanding he continue working.
During the inquiry, officials identified clear elements of bonded labour, including debt, advance payments, lack of freedom to leave, unfair wages, and restrictions on working elsewhere. This prompted the district authorities to initiate an inquiry based on the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act.
Following the inquiry’s findings, the authorities plan to issue release certificates to officially nullify the children’s debts and free them from their bonded status. The rescued children are currently housed in a shelter home, where they will receive counseling and rehabilitation to facilitate their reintegration into society. “The children will receive essential support, including counseling, and will be reintegrated into their families or safer environments,” stated DCPO Niranjan Kar.
Legal proceedings will be initiated against the employers exploiting the children. The prosecution will be pursued under multiple laws, including the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
The District Administration has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any instances of child bonded labour or exploitation. “We will continue to monitor the area closely and are committed to eradicating child and bonded labor in the region. A full report on the action taken will be submitted to the District Magistrate for further review and necessary follow-up,” emphasized the DCPO.
Following their rescue, the children expressed joy at the prospect of returning to their native villages to be with their families. “When a child’s labour is pledged against debt, it amounts to the worst form of bonded labor. It is heartening to see the district administration take action in these cases and send a strong message to the perpetrators,” remarked social activist Dilip Das.