Patna, Aug. 28: No Chhotu in the state capital will need the help of a friendly prince to fulfil their dreams of success. For, Bihar State Child Labour Commission is set to rescue under-aged youths who, like the protagonist of the recently released film I Am Kalam, are victims of child labour.

Members of the commission’s task force would visit apartments in the city to check if families were employing children as household helps. They would also take a written undertaking from all the families residing in apartments that they would not employ under-aged youths.

For this, the commission has formed two teams headed by labour superintendents Jayant Kumar and Ratna Prasad. Amar Kant Singh, the deputy labour commissioner, is the in-charge of the task force.

Singh said: “We would try to find families that employ children. We will also spread awareness about the social evil. To ensure that child labour is not encouraged we will take undertaking from families that they will not employ under-aged youths.”

The deputy chairperson of the commission, Anita Sinha, would accompany the teams to spread awareness about the ills of child labour.

Sinha told The Telegraph: “Child labour will not be tolerated in any form. Therefore, we have made plans to be more proactive.”

She said: “We will drop in to various apartments without notice. Many families residing in apartments employ under-aged youths. Not only will we try to check child labour but we will also spread awareness about the social evil.”

The deputy commissioner also said: “Children from economically backward families, too, have a right to study. Therefore, the members of commission will try to explain to people how important it is to eradicate child labour.”

Residents and social workers welcomed the propo- sed move.

Homemaker Rekha Arun Kumar said: “This is a good step. The commission should not only ensure that these children are rescued but also adopt adequate measures to rehabilitate them.”

Varsha Jawalgekar, the convener of Parivartan Jan Andalon, said: “The commission must have a holistic approach to check the problem. They should ensure that the family of the child is helped so that he or she is not required to work.”

Around two years ago, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi had announced that the commission would form teams to conduct raids and rescue children engaged in child labour. Sources, however, said the teams were not performing to their potential.

Asked whether those teams were functional, the deputy labour commissioner said: “The teams have been working. They conduct raids Monday through Friday. They rescue eight to 10 children every week in Patna.”