Trapped & Treated: Rescuing Jajpur's Young Warriors

Six children from the Scheduled Tribe community, aged 12 to 14, were rescued from bonded labor in Jajpur district, Odisha. They were forced to work in fish scaling and meat shops. The district administration, with a special task force, conducted the rescue. Rehabilitation is underway.

In a significant operation, six children forced into bonded labor in Jajpur district's Vyas Nagar Municipality have been rescued, local officials reported. The children, all between the ages of 12 and 14 and from the Scheduled Tribe community, were found working in deplorable conditions at fish scaling and meat shops.

Initiated by Collector P Anvesha Reddy, the rescue operation was a collaborative effort involving the district child protection officer, local law enforcement, and other officials. A series of coordinated raids in the Nahaka and Chorda areas successfully extracted the children, who are now receiving shelter, counseling, and educational aid to reintegrate into society.

Authorities have vowed to continue crackdowns on child labor, urging the community to report exploitation. Legal actions against the employers who forced these children into labor will be pursued. This rescue follows a similar operation 12 days earlier, highlighting ongoing issues in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)