Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour, the Department of Labour and Employees’ State Insurance, Government of Odisha, launched a massive state-wide awareness campaign to eliminate child labour.
At a special event held at the Directorate of Labour premises in Kharavel Nagar, Chithra Arumugam, the Additional Chief Secretary of the department, officially unveiled an anti-child labour poster.
Labour Commissioner, Odisha, Shri Indramani Tripathy and other senior officers of the Commissionerate of Labour were present.
This event marked the beginning of a fortnight-long intensive awareness drive that will continue across the state until June 26, 2026.
Addressing the gathering, the Additional Chief Secretary emphasized the strict implementation of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. She stated that the eradication of child labour is a multi-layered challenge that requires seamless coordination among various government departments.
To safeguard and promote child rights effectively, the Labour Department has strengthened its collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development as well as the Department of School and Mass Education. She concluded her speech with a strong call to action, urging all stakeholders and citizens to work collectively to make Odisha a child-labour-free state.
As part of the campaign, a specialized mobile vehicle named the ‘Child Labour Eradication Chariot’ (Shishu Shram Nirakarana Ratha) was flagged off to spread awareness among the public. Providing insights into the campaign’s roadmap, Odisha Labour Commissioner Indramani Tripathy detailed the planned activities at the district level.
These initiatives include organizing rallies, conducting meetings with enforcement officials, executing strategic raids and rescue operations, and encouraging students to raise their voices against child labour. He added that all District Collectors and District Labour Officers have been instructed to ensure the grand success of this awareness drive.
The event witnessed active participation from government officials of the Directorate of Labour and the Office of the Joint Labour Commissioner, Khordha. Representatives from various civil society organizations and non-governmental bodies, including the People’s Cultural Centre, Community Radio Association, International Justice Mission, Ruchika Social Service Organisation, and the Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL), were also present to support the cause.