Report on 'misuse' of kids in anti-Posco stir submitted

A day after the Orissa government sought a report on the alleged "misuse" of children in anti-Posco agitation, authorities in Jagatsinghpur district on Tuesday said kids were motivated to join the stir by their parents and Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS).

The District Social Welfare Officer submitted the report to the collector, giving details on the condition of children taking part in anti-Posco agitation in Dhinkia area within the deadline set by Women and Child Development Minister Anjali Behera, officials said.

DSWO Kumudini Sahu, who had rushed to Dhinkia Area to study the condition of the children, stated in the report that the kids were being motivated by their parents as well as PPSS to participate in the agitation against Posco steel project, they said.

Taking a serious note of alleged "misuse" of children in anti-Posco agitation, the minister had yesterday asked the DSWO to give a report on the condition of kids, who had participated in the anti-Posco agitation.

Meanwhile, the School and Mass Education Department today asked the district authorities to furnish information on the circumstances under which the children took part in the dharna last week though their schools had reopened after summer vacation, officials said.

Sources said there are three schools in Dhinkia area including a high school and the government was worried over absence of so many students from schools.

PPSS leaders, however, countered the government saying schools had on several occasions been used to accommodate police personnel, affecting student's education in the past, and now the government has no right to enquire about their studies.