The Odisha government has neglected its plan to eliminate child labor. Despite holding power for 24 years, the BJG government has not conducted a survey to identify child laborers, allowing dangerous child labor practices to persist across the state. The government’s inaction has left many children working in unsafe, illegal conditions, especially in Bhubaneswar and other regions.
Children continue to work in hazardous jobs, such as begging and street vending. Labor Minister Ganeshram Singh Khuntia informed the Assembly that the last child labor survey was conducted in 1997. The government has failed to conduct a survey in the last 10 years, raising concerns about its commitment to protecting children.
In 2015, the government introduced a state-wide plan to eliminate child labor, but little has changed. Even after amending the Child Labor Act in 2016 and updating the plan in 2019-20, the government has made no significant progress. As a result, child labor continues to rise across the state.
Critics argue that, despite being in power for over two decades, the BJG government has done little to combat child labor. Instead, they accuse the previous government of appointing party members to the State Child Protection Rights Commission rather than addressing the problem.
In Bhubaneswar, children continue to beg, sell goods, and work in hazardous environments, even on routes leading to government offices. Yet, the administration has ignored their plight, failing to integrate them into mainstream society.
Without an updated survey or proper implementation of the action plan, the government remains unable to protect these children or ensure their future.