The Mysuru district administration has instructed officials to intensify inspection and initiate legal action against those employing children in the district.

While conducting the quarterly review meeting of the district level executive and task force committee of the District Child Labour Project Society on Tuesday, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) R. Aishwarya directed officials to take immediate action to prevent children from selling pens, pencils, balloons and other items at the Dasara Exhibition Ground.

Employing children below the age of 18 in stalls and shops at the Dasara Exhibition is strictly prohibited, said ADC.

With Deepavali approaching, ADC instructed officials to maintain strict vigilance and create awareness among owners of firecracker manufacturing units and sales outlets against the employment of those below 18 years, according to a press release.

She said that officials who had been notified as inspector under Section 16 and 17 of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, must conduct minimum 15 inspections every month in their hobli without fail.

The ADC had directed Tahashildars to conduct a regular meeting of taluk-level child labour eradication and rehabilitation committees. She also instructed officials to conduct awareness programmes about Child Labour Act in schools and public places with the co-ordination of government department.