Malpe: In a crackdown on child labour, officials of the Labour Department carried out a raid at Malpe harbor and rescued 19 child workers on Tuesday December 16.

Following a directive from the Commissioner of Labour – the Karnataka Government Sarvajanika Shikshana Ilak, the Koteshwar dharma organization along with the women and child welfare committee raided the place early morning at 6 am, when the boats filled with fish arrive.

According to the sources, these children were employed for picking up waste or fallen fish – which they would later sell to the near-by markets. They would earn approximately Rs 100 each day.

However a case was not  registered, in this regard as these children were not employed by anyone and were self employed due to poverty.

During the raid a few parents of the children also turned up and created a chaos. They also made claims that ther children were school-goers, nevertheless the department rubbished these claims.

The rescued children, 10 boys and 9 girls are assumed to be below 14, however their actual age has not, as yet been determined,  said an official who was part of the team.

The officials handed over all the 19 children to Child Welfare Committee. Proper rehabilitation for the children was assured.