Most rescued child labourers from Ahmedabad and Surat

The highest number of child labourers who were rescued in raids across the city last year were from Ahmedabad, data from the labour and employment department revelas. In all as many as 116 children who were employed as child labourers were rescued in raids across the state under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, in the last one year, officials said. Of these, 25 were rescued from Ahmedabad alone while Surat had the second highest number of rescue at 21. This means of the total number of rescue, 22% of the children were rescued from the icty alone while 40% of the total rescue happened in the two districts of Ahmedabad and Surat.

This resecue came following the 854 raids that were carried out by the department. In all Rs4.9 lakh was collected as fine from various units during the raids.

Vipul Mittra, Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Employment Department, said, "In every district, there is a cell under the Labour and Employment Department which conducts these raids with the help of other local government authorities. A large number of these child labourers were rescued from roadside 'dhabas'. Children employed in packaging and textiles units." In terms of fine, the highest amount of fine was collected from Rajkot. Of the 27 raids carried out by the department, 10 child labourers were rescued while six cases were filed.