Six children trapped in bonded labour to repay family debts rescued in Odisha

Acting on the orders of the District Collector, Jajpur district administration rescued six children who were forced to work as bonded labourers to repay advances taken by their parents. Acting on a tip-off, the authorities formed a special task force comprising the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), local police, revenue officials, and members of the Vigilance Committee.

The task force conducted raids at multiple locations, including two car wash units, a grocery shop, a dhaba, and a goat grazing site, where the children were found working in exploitative conditions. These children, aged 11 to 14, had been forced into bonded labour to settle their families' debts, a practice that remains illegal but persists in many parts of the state.

The children used to work for over 14 hours a day with minimal pay and restricted movement to pay off the advance money received by their families-struggling to make ends meet. They were not allowed to work elsewhere until their outstanding debts were fully repaid.

Akash Purty, one of the rescued boys hailing from Jharkhand narrated how the owner of the car washing facility had brought him to work at the unit after paying his father a sum of Rs 8000.

“I was made to work from 7 am till 7 pm but not paid any salary. Weekly, the owner would pay me only Rs 50 which was worth nothing. I requested him several times to let me go to my home but he would verbally abuse me and ask me to return the advance if I wanted to go home,” said Akash.

Another child, Laxman Chattarshared how his employer himself took out the POP cast out of his injured hand and made him work.
During the inquiry, the officials found the presence of bonded labour elements – debt, advance, no freedom to leave, unfair wages, no right to work elsewhere prompting the district authorities to carry out an inquiry based on the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act. 

The rescued children have been currently lodged in a shelter home and will undergo counselling and rehabilitation to facilitate their social mainstreaming. 

“The children will receive essential support, including counselling, and reintegration into their families or safer environments,” said DCPO Niranjan Kar.

Legal proceedings will be initiated against the employers responsible for exploiting the children. The prosecution will be pursued under multiple laws, including the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.

Meanwhile, the District Administration has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any cases of child bonded labour or exploitation. “We will continue to monitor the area closely and are committed to eradicating child and bonded labour in the region. A full report on the action taken will be submitted to the District Magistrate for further review and necessary follow-up,” the DCPO stated.