Mission Vatsalya Kupwara Conducts Anti-Child Labour Drive at Bus Stand, Rescues 5 Children

Mission Vatsalya Kupwara today launched an anti-child labour drive aimed at identifying children in street situations, those involved in child begging, and child labour at the Bus Stand in Kupwara.

The drive was conducted under the supervision of Mr. Hidaitullah Mir, the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) of Kupwara.

The operation saw active participation from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Kupwara, members of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), District Child Protection Unit officials, Child Helpline representatives, and officials from the Juvenile Police Unit in Kupwara.

During the drive, a total of **five children** were identified as being engaged in child labour and were promptly rescued by the team. Following the established procedures under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015, the children were safely restored to their parents or guardians.

The CWC and JJB Kupwara have also filed cases against the employers involved in the exploitation of these children under the relevant provisions of the **Child Labour Act** and the **JJ Act, 2015**. The authorities have made it clear that further legal actions will be taken against those who continue to engage children in work.

Additionally, the drive included a session of awareness for employers and business owners, urging them not to employ anyone under the age of 18. The authorities emphasized that such practices are illegal and strongly discourage the exploitation of children in any form.

Mission Vatsalya and local authorities remain committed to eliminating child labour and ensuring the safety and well-being of every child in the region.