Mehsana- In a significant operation against child labour, a special team rescued 10 children from hazardous working conditions in three different factories in Gujarat's Mehsana district on Thursday. The action was initiated on the directives of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

The rescue mission was set in motion after Dr. Shailendra Pandya, a social activist and former member of the Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, raised the issue with the NCPCR. Dr. Pandya highlighted the probable involvement of children from Rajasthan and neighbouring states, especially in the wake of a recent fire at a sulphur factory in Mehsana.

Taking cognizance, the NCPCR directed the District Collector of Mehsana to conduct a thorough investigation. A joint team was formed, which included experts from the Rajasthan-based child rights organization, Gayatri Seva Sansthan.

The team on September 25, raided three locations in the GIDC industrial area of Mehsana: Sunrise Agro Private Limited, Man Pharma Private Limited, and Tridev Traders. During the operation, a total of 10 child labourers, including 5 girls, were rescued while they were engaged in high-risk work. This marks the first major anti-child labour raid in the Mehsana GIDC area.

Dr. Shailendra Pandya, who previously led a major operation in Surat district that freed 137 child labourers a few years ago, stated that this is just the beginning. "A larger operation will be conducted soon. The 'Just Right For Children' team will make every possible effort to bust the entire trafficking racket," Dr. Pandya told The Mooknayak.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of the NCPCR. The team included officials from the Labour Department, the Child Welfare Committee, Police, Industrial Safety, along with representatives from Gayatri Seva Sansthan and Just Right For Children.