Gandhinagar: A 13-year-old child labourer was rescued from a paying guest facility, Happy Home Girls PG, in Sector-6 of Gandhinagar, where he was allegedly employed as a kitchen helper for a monthly wage of ₹3,000.

Police have registered a case against the PG owner and a cook under the provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act at the Sector-7 police station.

The rescue operation was carried out by a task force committee constituted under the Gandhinagar District Collector. Acting on a tip-off, the team raided the premises at Plot No. 807, Sector-6C, where the minor was found cutting vegetables in the kitchen.

During questioning, officials found that the child had been brought from Rajasthan around three months ago. He was allegedly employed by cook Lalsingh Kumbhavat, a native of Udaipur, who made him work as a helper for a nominal salary.

Further inquiry revealed that the PG is owned by Ravikantbhai Vallabhbhai Patel, a native of Junagadh, currently residing in Kudasan. Following the rescue, labour officer Girishkumar Sindhawat lodged a complaint against both the owner and the cook at the Sector-7 police station.

The rescued child has been sent to a child protection home in Sector-17 for care and rehabilitation. Officials said further investigation is underway.

Authorities also stated that inspections and enforcement drives against child labour and illegal establishments will continue. Despite a ban on commercial activities in residential areas of Gandhinagar, unauthorised PG accommodations continue to operate in several sectors, causing issues such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, excessive water usage, and drainage problems for local residents. DeshGujarat