Twenty-five minor girls working at a cashew unit in Koraput district of Odisha were today rescued, a senior official said.
The factory, situated about 50 km from here, at Borigumma was raided by a team of officials from the district task force on child protection, the officer said.
"All the rescued children are below 14 years of age. While the industry owner facilitated three girls to escape from the spot, the remaining 22 minor girls have been kept at a short stay home at Jeypore," Rajashree Das, District Child Protection Officer, Koraput, said.
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"The industry owner has been asked to bring the three girls who escaped from the spot," she added.
"We have called parents of the girls and they will be counselled to send their children to schools. Those who do not want to continue studies will be imparted skill development training on various trades," she said.
Sources said hundreds of child labourers are engaged in about 65 cashew industries situated in Jeypore and Borigumma blocks of the district.
"Regular raids should be conducted on the cashew units to ensure that no children are engaged there. Owing to poverty with a desire to supplement their family income, scores of minor girls get themselves employed in the cashew industries and cashing on it the industry owners exploit the minors," said K C Sahu, a Jeypore-based activist.
Activists said such raids should also be conducted by labour department as the cashew industries violate several labour laws by engaging children and never maintain labour attendance register.
"Show-cause notice will be issued to the cashew unit from where the child labourers were rescued and necessary legal action will be taken against it," Tarani Sen Khora, District Labour Officer, said.
Koraput District Collector Yamingi Sarangi said raids would continue in future to ensure that no children are engaged in cashew industries.
