In a bid to stop child labour and improve literacy levels in Mayurbhanj district, the district administration in association with Mayurbhanj Athletic Association organised a ‘Mini Marathon’ here on Monday to coincide with the National Sports Day.

More than 5,000 sports lovers from different districts and a few from outside the state participated in the Mini Marathon, said district collector and president of Mayurbhanj Athletic Association(MAA) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil. He said with a view to promote sports and game as these integral part of human life as well as important of human resources development, the district administration has emphasized on promotion of sports in the district and also arousing sports consciousness among the mass.

The message of the event this year is to prevent child labor and education, he informed while adding that 365 child labours working in brick cleaning were rescued and are now pursuing their education. Parents who had sent their children to work are being counseled and the administration is providing basic requirements to them, he informed. “We have rescued child labour from Jharkhand, Bengal, Maharashtra and Gujarat where Mayurbhanj district&’s children are working. All government staffs like BDOs,Thesildar,School Inspector, and department of district project coordinator of Sarva Sikshya Avijan, employees of angawari centres, school teachers and NGOs have joined hands in protecting children and rescuing those working in dhabas, hotels, restaurants, tea stalls, brick industries or any place that child labours are found.

“Our ambition is to educate child and bring them to mainstream of the society,” said Collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil. It is the second time mini marathon has been celebrated on the eve of national sports day the participants from in and outside the district and states got opportunities to participate.Media partner, banks, some social organization, mines owners and traders sponsored the event. Prize money was distributed under different categories Rs boys,girls,men and women – ranged from Rs.20,000 to Rs.50,000. Arjun Tudu from Jamshedpur in the men category and Samsadana Begum of Cuttack in the women section were declared champions. Deputy Speaker Sananda Marandi, Sports Minister Sudam Marandi, MLAs of the district,SP R Prakash, ADM, PDDRDA, cine star Uttam Mohanty, Vice-Chariman Baripada municipality Jitendra Mohanty and others were present at the prize distribution function.