Odisha: Ganjam announces Rs 50,000 reward for child labour information

BERHAMPUR: The Ganjam administration on World Day Against Child Labour on Sunday announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for sharing credible information with district officials on child labourers in the region.
With Ganjam already declared as a “child marriage-free district” in January this year, the administration seeks to implement various measures for the district’s socio-economic development.According to experts, the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the country’s fight against child labour as many children have been forced into odd jobs due to the untimely death of their parents or earning members of family.
“The move aims to make Ganjam free from child labour and ensure public participation in protection of children. The initiative will also try to resolve the issue of school dropout,” Ganjam collector Vijay Amruta Kulange said, adding that the plan will be implemented after the Raja festival, to be held next week.
He said the information to be submitted to the district administration should be credible with details of the child and his/her employer.
“After verifying the information’s authenticity, the district task force will rescue the child. We have also asked the district education officer and block education officers to trace the school dropouts by visiting their homes,” Kulange added.
By verifying the students’ enrolment details, officials will find out if any student dropped out of school. Teachers will visit the dropout students’ homes and talk to their parents. As the base year of enrolment, 2019 will be considered, officials said.
Meanwhile, various organisations observed the day across the district. The Childline’s Ganjam unit conducted a rally and a meeting in Berhampur. Local MP Chandra Sekhar Sahu and Berhampur Municipal Corporation mayor Sanghamitra Dalai flagged off the rally.
The Youth for Social Development also took out a rally and visited the city’s slum areas. Children, teachers, Anganwadi and Asha workers and sarpanchs participated in the rally and pledged to make Ganjam as a child-labour-free district.