Even as engaging a child as a labourer is a punishable offence, a rate of conviction in such cases has become a concern in the State. According to records, only 15 persons have been convicted in child labuor cases in the past 20 years in the State.
As per the Child labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and Regulation Rule 1994, it is illegal to engage a child below 14 years of age in as many as 18 occupations.
In violation of the law, the accused if found guilty can be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from three months to one year or slapped a fine ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 or both.
According to official reports, as many as 867 persons were prosecuted in the State during 1994-2015 for allegedly violating the law, out of which only 15 accused were convicted and 70 were acquitted by courts.
The remaining cases are pending in different courts. Five persons were convicted in Angul and Khordha districts, two in Nayagarh, and one each in Mayurbhanj, Koraput and Gajapati.
The highest number of 106 cases has been registered in Sundargarh district.
Both State=level and district-level squads have been formed to rescue child labourers engaged in dangerous occupations. The squads have been empowered to rescue and rehabilitate child labour victims by raiding various locations.
However, the number of raids that has been conducted has been low in the past 20 years. A total of 3,845 raids were conducted across the State between 2010 and 2015 and cases were filed against 198 persons. last year, only 271 raids were conducted.
As per the last child labour census done way back in 1997, there were a total of 2,15,222 child labourers in the State.
Afterwards, no such survey was conducted officially to count the number of child labourers. However, as per the 2011 population census, over three lakh child labourers were engaged in different occupations in the State.
While children are found working in various hotels, garages and shops in the capital city, only 53 children were rescued and cases were filed against the owners in the past five years.
While the State observed the World Day against Child labour on June 12, the low rescue and conviction rates have become the biggest hindrance in addressing the menace.