17 children working at Malpe fishing port rescued in Udupi

Udupi: About 17 children, who were employed at Malpe fishing port in Udipi district in the coastal region of Karnataka have been rescued on Thursday morning, while they were employed for picking the fishes.

The children hailing from Koppal and Ballari districts of North Karnataka had come with their parents to Udipi in search of jobs and were employed by locals for picking the fishes.

A team of District child Protection Unit took up the rescue operation on Thursday morning, while the children were being used for loading and unloading fishes as well as picking specific species of fishes from the catch. 

Since the schools are closed due to COVID and people from North Karnataka, who are working as guest workers have brought their children here. These kids are working in the fishing harbor. 

They help in loading and unloading. Also, some steal the fish and sell it at a cheaper rate to others.

"We conduct such operations in the fishing harbor regularly as kids continue to do such works. In some cases there are repeaters. Only an awareness among the laborers can put an end to this," District Child Protection Unit Legal cum probation officer Prabhakar Achar told Deccan Chronicle.

Officials from the education department, labor department, police, childline and Nagarika Vedike led by Nityananda Volakadu participated in this operation.

The kids were produced before the CWC.

"The parents should come and take their children by showing valid documents before the CWC," Achar added.