While no accurate data are available about the number of children working in private sectors in the State, the number of child labourers, who are being rescued from various places, is on the rise.
In 2013, the child labourers rescued numbered 62 and in 2014, the number was 157, while the figure has increased to 219 by October 2015.
Among the rescued children in 2013, the highest number of 23 was from Jajpur district; 13 were from Dhenkanal and eight from Gajapati. In 2014, the 157 rescued children included 59 from Jajpur, 22 from Jharsuguda and 12 from Rayagada.
This year, out of the 219 children rescued so far, the highest 59 were from Dhenkanal, 26 from Mayurbhanj and 23 from Rayagada, sources said.
The Government has a system to impart education to the rescued children at schools after deposing them at the District Child Welfare Committees. While an action plan is being executed with the help of 10 departments at the State level to abolish the child labour practice.
The Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 is in force in the State to abolish child labour. As per the law, appointment of children of less than 14 years of age in 18 occupations and 65 processes has been prohibited.
For violation of the Act, there is a provision of three years of jail term along with a fine of up to `20,000. The taskforces at the district level are to rescue the children engaged at different workplaces.
The Government made a few changes in the law in 2006 restricting people to engage children in private sector, including hotels. However, no accurate data are available so far in this regard as no survey has been conducted about the number of children working in private sector.
The anti-child labour law now appears to be a toothless tiger. last time a survey was conducted to get the exact number of child labourers was in 1997 when the number was 2.15 lakh. As per the 2011 Census, the number of child labourers crossed 3 lakh in the State. However, no survey is being conducted formally by the Government to know the accurate data of their number, sources said.