About 100 school children have joined the anti-Posco dharnas organised by Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti(PPSS) at the entry point to Gobindpur gram panchayat area, which falls in the proposed mega steel project site, since the past four days.
This was in violation of at least two central laws - Right to Education Act and Child Right Protection Act, they said.
"Engaging children in the agitation is unacceptable. The government has sought reports from authorities on the matter before taking action against persons responsible for it," revenue divisional commissioner A K Padhee said.
Chief Secretary B K Patnaik reviewed the situation at the proposed Posco steel project site during the day in view of the fresh agitation against it. Padhee, Jagatsinghpur district Collector S K Mallick and other senior government officials attended the meeting.
"Using children as a shield is illegal. We have sought reports on children's participation in the agitation from the district project coordinator of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, district education authority and the labour officer," Mallick said.
He claimed that while the local people are ready to part with their land, a handful of them are putting up hurdles. MORE
