Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, 12 June 2026 — World Day Against Child Labour — reaffirmed his government's commitment to eliminating child labour, citing the state's Shahid Madho Singh Haata Kharcha Yojana as a concrete vehicle for keeping vulnerable children in school.

Context

Posting on the occasion of the annual observance promoted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), CM Majhi wrote: 'Every child deserves a book in hand, not a burden on their shoulders.' He called on citizens to reaffirm the commitment to 'safeguarding every child's right to education, protection and opportunity.'

The World Day Against Child Labour, observed every 12 June, serves as a global rallying point for governments, civil society and international bodies to assess progress and renew pledges against the exploitation of child workers.

Policy Backdrop

India's legislative framework against child labour rests on two pillars: the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which guarantees free schooling for children aged 6 to 14, and the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, which banned the employment of children under 14 in all occupations.

State governments have been expected to complement these national laws with targeted incentive programmes that address the economic pressures that push families to withdraw children from school. Odisha, home to large tribal and rural populations, has historically run welfare schemes for low-income and marginalised households to reduce dropout rates.

The Shahid Madho Singh Haata Kharcha Yojana is the Majhi government's current instrument in this space, designed to provide financial support to children from vulnerable communities so that economic necessity does not become a barrier to continuing their education.

Stakeholders and Impact

The scheme's primary beneficiaries are school-going children from Odisha's most economically exposed communities — tribal households, daily-wage families, and others at high risk of dropout. By providing direct support, the programme aims to break the cycle in which poverty compels children into informal labour markets.

Educators, child-rights advocates, and district administrations in Odisha are key implementing stakeholders. Sustained enrolment and retention gains in districts where the scheme operates would represent the clearest measure of its effectiveness.

What's Next

CM Majhi's statement signals continued political prioritisation of the programme heading into the second half of 2026. Observers will watch for state-level data on school enrolment, attendance retention, and child labour incidence surveys across Odisha districts where the Haata Kharcha Yojana is active.

The broader test for Odisha — and for Indian states generally — is whether financial support schemes translate into sustained improvements in learning outcomes, or whether structural barriers such as school infrastructure gaps and seasonal migration continue to undercut progress. CM Majhi's public commitment on a globally observed date adds a layer of accountability to the state's delivery targets.