Mysuru: As many as 20 minor children have been rescued from child labour, begging and roadside selling in Mysuru during the ongoing Dasara celebrations by special teams formed by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU).
The teams were constituted to make Mysuru Dasara child-friendly and prevent children from being drawn into exploitative activities during the festival, which attracts large crowds and visitors from different parts of the country.
According to officials, the rescued children were found in various parts of the city, including those working in establishments, selling items on roadsides and begging. Authorities said greater public awareness had contributed to a decline in the number of children found engaging in such activities compared with previous years.
Three children rescued from child labour
Mahadeva Kote, a member of the Child Welfare Committee, said the rescued children included three minors who were working at different locations, including a hotel.
Other children were found begging or selling various items on city roads during the Dasara festivities.
Among those rescued was a minor student from Haveri who was selling groundnuts. According to Kote, the boy had come to Mysuru with his brother on the pretext of watching Dasara but was found selling groundnuts on the streets.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by child protection teams during large public events, when children accompanying family members or travelling from other places may end up working on the streets.
Officials said children involved in such activities had come from northern Karnataka as well as states including Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The teams have been conducting checks and awareness initiatives in different parts of the city to identify children at risk and ensure they receive appropriate protection.
Awareness campaigns show results
Kote said awareness initiatives had helped reduce the number of children involved in begging and roadside selling during this year’s Dasara.
He said the authorities would continue their awareness efforts until the conclusion of the festival.
“These children will be safe in our care. Our awareness initiatives resulted in a steep drop in the number of children involved in beggary, roadside selling, and begging. Till the conclusion of the Dasara, we will continue to hold the awareness initiatives,” Kote said.
The teams’ work forms part of efforts to ensure that children are not exposed to unsafe working conditions or exploitation while the city hosts the annual celebrations.
Authorities have also urged people to remain alert to instances of children being made to work or beg in public places and to bring such cases to the attention of the appropriate officials.
Three girls placed in a girls’ home
Officials also reported that a street vendor’s family from Haveri handed over three girls to the custody of a girls’ home until the conclusion of Dasara, reportedly out of fear of action by the authorities.
The arrangement is intended to ensure that the children remain in a protected environment during the festival period.
Child protection teams are continuing their activities as crowds gather across Mysuru for the remaining Dasara programmes. Officials have indicated that awareness drives and interventions will continue until the celebrations conclude.
Activist seeks temporary shelters for migrant women
Meanwhile, residents have raised concerns about the living conditions of young migrant women who travel to Mysuru to sell goods during Dasara.
Suma Hegade, an activist from the city, said many women vendors were staying in unsecured tents or buildings at night while continuing their businesses during the festival.
She urged the government and Dasara authorities to address their accommodation needs and provide temporary shelters.
The concerns point to a wider challenge associated with large festivals: alongside child protection, authorities may also need to consider the safety and basic needs of seasonal vendors who depend on the crowds for their livelihood.
Hegade said the government should take note of the women’s circumstances and make suitable temporary arrangements during the celebrations.
With the child protection teams continuing their work, officials and activists have highlighted the importance of ensuring that Mysuru Dasara remains safe and accessible not only for visitors but also for children and vulnerable groups who come to the city during the festival.