Bhubaneswar: Even on the eve of International Workers’ Day, or Labour Day, many top government officials didn’t have a clear idea about the number of child labourers in the state. This lack of clarity is reflected even in the official website of the Labour Directorate, Orissa. Even in 2017, the official website of the labour department is having the child labour statistics of 1997.
Interestingly, the labour department had conducted that survey after the Supreme Court in the MC Mehta v/s the State of Tamil Nadu & Others case (WP. 465/ 1986) directed all state governments to implement the Child Labour Prohibition Act-1986 and identify the number of children below 14 years who were being exploited for economic reasons.
Although many top officials remained tightlipped on this issue, sources confirmed that the department was now conducting a survey to find out the number of child labourers in the state.
But, this has raised concerns about the future of the state that is regarded as the home of child labourers.
With most of the hotels in the Capital having at least one child labourer, social activists suggested that on this Labour Day, officials must consider making sincere efforts to eradicate this malaise from the state.
“Child labourers working in any industry are indirectly affecting job opportunities of adult workers. Apart from this, these children are our future and keeping them away from schools will affect the future of our country. Similarly, when an adult labourer loses his job opportunity because of a child labourer, it affects the GDP. So, eradication of child labour should be the primary objective of this Labour Day,” said Anuradha Mohanty, a leading child rights activist.
Currently, from the agriculture sector to commercial establishments, everyone is engaging child labourers. After talking to some of the children working as child labourers, Orissa POST found out that in all the cases poverty was the only reason behind their sorry state.
Chottu (11) is one such child working in one of the dhabas in the Capital. His day begins with cleaning and mopping the floor of the dabha. He fetches water from the nearest municipal tap, washes utensils and does whatever the master orders him to, only to get two meals a day. Unfortunately, he is often trashed when he breaks a teacup or plate while washing. This young boy from Balasore told this newspaper that he didn’t want to go to school since he won’t get food there.
Since poverty is driving most of the children to do menial jobs, child rights activists suggest that the government consider an economic security scheme for curbing child labour.
“The government has to offer economic support to these vulnerable sections of society. Then only they will avoid sending their children for work. So, initially, we should think about reducing child labour and eradication can happen in due course,” said Tapan Pati, a leading social activist.
Government officials this newspaper spoke to claimed that the labour department was often conducting checks on various workplaces to spot and rescue child labourers.
“We are inspecting every workplace and are trying to end this illegal practice. It is a fact that we cannot show immediate result. But, we are moving on the right track and we will save the future of our children,” said a top official of the Ministry of Labour.
Jose K Joseph, OP
