Bhubaneswar, Oct. 3 (UDN): The Odisha government has launched a 44-day statewide campaign aimed at making Gram Panchayats across the state free from child labour and creating greater public awareness about the importance of education and child protection.
The campaign, titled ‘Shishu Shram Mukta Gram Panchayat’ (Child Labour-Free Gram Panchayat), was launched on Friday on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
CM Calls for Collective Action
Announcing the initiative through a video message, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said child labour remains a social concern that prevents children and adolescents from accessing their fundamental right to education.
He said the government has resolved to work towards making Odisha free from child labour and that the 44-day campaign will be taken to every Gram Panchayat in the state.
According to the Chief Minister, eliminating child labour cannot be achieved by government agencies alone and requires active participation from communities, families and other stakeholders.
Focus on Awareness and Prevention
The campaign will focus on educating people about the adverse impact of child labour and encouraging communities to identify and prevent practices that push children into work.
Officials and local-level stakeholders will work to strengthen awareness about children’s rights and encourage families to ensure that children remain in school rather than entering the workforce.
The initiative is also aimed at promoting a safer environment in which children can continue their education and pursue their aspirations.
CM Links Child Welfare With Prosperous Odisha
Majhi said ensuring the overall development of children is essential to achieving the broader vision of a ‘Samruddha Odisha’ (Prosperous Odisha).
Appealing to citizens to participate in the campaign, he urged communities across the state to work together towards eliminating child labour.
The Chief Minister said the objective is to create an Odisha where every child has the opportunity to dream, receive an education and work towards fulfilling those aspirations.
Statewide Data Remains a Challenge
The scale of child labour in Odisha has historically been significant. The last dedicated statewide survey, conducted in 1997, had identified 2,15,222 child labourers in the state.
However, the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has pointed out that no systematic statewide survey has been carried out since then.
The absence of recent comprehensive data remains a challenge in assessing the current scale and distribution of child labour across Odisha.
The 44-day campaign is therefore expected to place renewed emphasis on grassroots-level awareness, community participation and efforts to protect children from labour while ensuring their access to education.
