Ludhiana: 9 children rescued from shops, dhabas in Khanna

The special campaign was launched at the direction of deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain to curb child labour and ensure the protection of vulnerable children

As part of an ongoing drive against child labour, the district task force rescued nine children found working at various shops and dhabas in Khanna during surprise inspections conducted under the Jeevanjot Project.

Officials appealed to residents and business owners not to employ children below 18 years of age. (HT File)

The special campaign was launched at the direction of deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain to curb child labour and ensure the protection of vulnerable children. The inspections were carried out under the supervision of district child protection officer Rashmi, with teams visiting multiple establishments in Khanna to check for violations.

Officials said the rescued children were produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Ludhiana, for further proceedings. Counselling sessions were also conducted for both the children and their parents to sensitise them about the adverse impact of child labour and the importance of education.

The enforcement drive was conducted jointly by the District Child Protection Unit, Child Helpline (1098), Labour Department, and Punjab Police. Legal Officer Deepak Kumar and Child Helpline Supervisor Shraddh Sood were among the officials involved in the operation.