A probe has been ordered into the allegation that child labourers were being engaged in executing works of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Ganjam district.
"District Level Monitoring Committee will inquire into the allegation of child labour engaged in the MGNREGS work," District Collector Krishan Kumar said here today.
Stringent action would be taken against the persons found guilty in the incident, he said.
Child rights activists had on Sunday claimed to have detected at least four children working in the MGNREGS work at Kaudia village in Sanakhemundi block. The children aged 12 to 13 years were working in renovation of a pond, when the activists found them, director of the Child Line, Berhampur, Sudhir Sabat alleged.?
The children were studying in a nearby school in Class VII and VIII. They were rescued and handed over to their parents, he said adding the children were working in the site in place of their parents who actually hold job cards.