Binika: Seven child labourers were rescued during a joint raid by the district Child Helpline, Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Labour Department, police and an NGO at hotels, garages and roadside eateries in Binika town in Odisha’s Subarnapur district on Thursday.

Following their rescue, the children were produced before the Subarnapur Child Welfare Committee. CWC chairperson Lina Babu and member Brajendra Bishi ordered that the children be placed at Utkal Balashram for their care and protection.

District Project Coordinator Sujit Kumar Mishra urged people to report cases of child labour by calling the child helpline number 1098.

The raid was conducted in the presence of CWC member Keshab Meher, Binika Additional Labour Officer Chinmay Meher, Binika police personnel and NGO representatives.

Concerns over child labour in Binika

The rescue operation has brought renewed attention to the alleged persistence of child labour in Binika, where concerns have been raised over the employment of children in roadside eateries, shops, fish markets, daily markets, hotels and small liquor outlets.

Local reports have alleged that measures intended to protect children have remained largely confined to official records, with inadequate enforcement on the ground. Poverty and a lack of awareness have also been cited as factors contributing to the problem.

Government guidelines provide for committees at the panchayat, block and district levels to monitor child protection measures, with meetings scheduled every three months. However, concerns have been raised over the implementation of these provisions in Binika block and the local notified area council (NAC).

Call for stronger enforcement

June 12 is observed annually as World Day Against Child Labour, an initiative led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to raise awareness about the need to end child labour and protect children's health, education and well-being.

Residents have called for stronger and more consistent enforcement of child protection laws in Binika to prevent children from being employed in hazardous or unlawful work.

The latest rescue operation has renewed calls for regular inspections, greater public awareness and sustained action against those employing children.