Odisha to develop action plan for eradicating child labour

In order to eradicate child labour from the state, the Odisha government has decided to develop a Common Action Plan for prevention of child labour activities at various institutions and places in the state.

Holding a meeting on the proposed action plan, Odisha Chief Secretary G.C. Pati Thursday said that convergence of efforts among existing institutions, departments and agencies will be done through a Common Action Plan for elimination of child labour.

"The gram panchyats, panchayat samitis, zilla parishads and district administration will be actively involved in prohibition, registration and rehabilitation activities. Gram panchayats will be involved in identifying the vulnerable families and bringing them to the fold of income generating schemes and programmes," said Pati in a press release.

Sensitisation programmes will also be intensified at village, panchayat and urban local body levels.

Pati advised the labour commissioner to draft the Common Action Plan converging the activities and schemes of the departments like labour and employment, home, school and mass education, women and child development, panchayati raj, health and family welfare, housing and urban development and ST and SC development by Nov 7.

The meeting also discussed strengthening of enforcement mechanism, intensifying awareness generation, providing education and skill development training to the vulnerable as well as rescued children, rescue of the child labourers and their rehabilitation.

--Indo-Asian News service

cd/vip/vm