155 children rescued in weeklong anti-child labour drive across Punjab: Anmol Gagan Mann

Chandigarh: The weeklong anti-child labour drive carried out by Punjab Labour Department rescued 155 children as part of a special drive to prevent child labour across the state.

Disclosing this here today, Labour Minister Anmol Gagan Mann said that the joint teams of Labour and other line departments conducted surprise checks at street vends and other outlets from June 11 to 21. She said that the purpose of this special endeavour was to wipe out child labour menace and the teams rescued 155 children involved in street vends and other business establishments.

On the directives of Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann, this drive was conducted in all districts of the state, said the Minister adding that special committees had already been constituted in district under Deputy Commissioners to eradicate child labour. She mentioned that the teams comprising officials from different departments including Labour, Education, Health, Women & Child Protection and Punjab Police so as to launch the drive efficaciously.

The Minister pointed out that the joint teams conducted raids on industrial units and workplaces throughout the state under which as many as 99 children were get freed from child labour in Ludhiana district. Similarly, the teams rescued four children in Bathinda, three in Jalandhar, one in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, three in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Two each in Fazilka and Rupnagar districts, one each in Sangrur, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Ferozepur districts.

Likewise, as many as 30 child laborers rescued in Patiala, three in Pathankot, Five in Batala, one in Gurdaspur, Batala and Hoshiarpur. The Labour Minister said that the campaign for the eradication of child labor would continue in the time to come.