Child labour in orissa rising

KORAPUT IS a district with Maoist infestation and many other problems; which surrounds the un-divided Koraput throughout the year. One of the most serious problems is child labour in this backward region. Though the Orissa state government had decided to eradicate child labour till 2014, and had also stepped in various programmes regarding the same. But the state is witness to a large number of poor tribal children working in various hotels, road sides and market places.

Till date there is no proper record of how many child labourers are there in the state. The child labour brings a negative picture towards the visitors. In a democratic state, it is shameful that this problem is increasing day by day and growing to become a vast problem.

Looking forward to eradicate child labour from Orissa, government has taken various steps. The state government has joined hands with various departments of state, such as; Women and Children Welfare Department, Revenue Department, Employment Department, etc. These departments will identify the child labours and also calculate the same. They will also work for the welfare and development of the child labour and its eradication.

Along with the above plans and programmes, the state government has also decided to take help from the Central government. It is also been decided to open at least two transit homes in district level. All these plans and programmes of the state government are welcome but how far all these will be fruitful remains a big question.

Poverty and poor standard of living is the main reason for the increased child labour in Koraput. Around 72 per cent of the population is below the poverty level in the area. To earn their day to day livelihood they put their poor children to work. Poor tribal children working in garage, workshops, shops, hotels, road side, grazing animals, collecting dry woods for fuel at home, etc can be seen every .

The government should properly plan to eradicate poverty from these areas. If only each and every family set out of poverty then only eradicating child labour till 2014 would be possible.