Ahead of the World Day Against Child Labour, a joint enforcement team led by the Labour Department rescued two minor child labourers during a special drive at two separate areas of Agartala on Thursday afternoon.

The operation was conducted as part of the department’s ongoing efforts to curb child labour and ensure the protection of children's rights. The rescued minors were found working in two shops in the market areas including at Satyanarayan Restaurant at Battala Bazar and another at Radha Krishna servicing centre in Fore Service Choumohani.

Speaking with media persons, Labour Department Joint Commissioner Binoy Bhushan Das said that such enforcement drives would continue in the coming days to identify and rescue children engaged in illegal labour activities and to ensure strict compliance with child labour laws.

Earlier, on June 5th last, the anti-child labour enforcement team had raided and rescued a minor engaged in work at a restaurant (Kajal Rekha”) in Agartala’s College Road area and registered an FIR against the establishment's owner.

While, on Thursday afternoon, Binoy Bhushan Das said that the action was taken against two busness establishment and they will register specific FIRs against owners.

The department notices that many children were engaged in hazardous work at many business establishments across Agartala, which is total inhuman and violates the provisions of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.

Das explained that the law completely prohibits the employment of children below 14 years of age in any occupation or process and restricts adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years from working in hazardous occupations and processes. Violations under the Act are cognizable offences.

Accordingly, the Labour Department under the provisions of the Act, the offence carries a punishment of up to one year of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000.

The Joint Labour Commissioner further noted that the department regularly conducts awareness programmes among shop owners, traders, and brick kiln operators to discourage child labour. Despite these efforts, some employers continue to violate the law.

He warned that the department would intensify enforcement measures and take strict action against any trader or business owner found employing children in labour-related activities.

"Employing children as labourers is not only illegal but also unethical. We will continue our drive against such practices," Das added.