Two boys working in dhabas freed

The boys were rescued after a surprise check by Labour Dept. officials and handed over to Child Welfare wing

K. Bhagya Naik, Deputy Commissioner of Labour, with the boys who were freed from dhabas in Nalgonda on Friday. Photo: Singam Venkataramana

Two minor boys from Bihar -- Rohit and Feroze -- both aged 13 and in two dhabas at Jangareddigudam in Tipparthi mandal near here, were liberated on Thursday evening, following a surprise check conducted by a team of officials headed by Nalgonda Deputy Commissioner of Labour K. Bhagya Naik.

The boys belong to Doodru village of Nabiganj taluk in Siwang district. They were taken to ESI doctors to ascertain the age. According to Mr. Naik, they were handed over to the Child Welfare wing of the district administration by the Child Welfare Committee headed by Raj Reddy.

Cases were registered against the two hotel owners from UP and Bihar for the violation of the Child Labour Prevention Act and the Minimum Wages Act. The Labour Department has asked the hotel owners to deposit Rs.20,000 each in the names of the two boys.

Among the officials who took part in the surprise check were Pramod Reddy, Prabhu , Venkat Reddy, Assistant Labour Commissioners, and G. Ravi of the Rajiv Vidya Mission.