The Odisha government on 2 October 2026 launched the 'Shishu Shram Mukta Gram Panchayat' (Child Labour-Free Gram Panchayat) campaign — a 44-day statewide awareness drive spanning every gram panchayat in the state, aimed at eradicating child labour from Odisha. The initiative was unveiled on Gandhi Jayanti, a date chosen deliberately to underscore the moral weight of the pledge.

What the Campaign Entails

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the drive through a video message, describing child labour as a social evil that strips children and adolescents of their fundamental right to education. The campaign will run across all gram panchayats in Odisha, building community awareness and fostering collective action to eliminate the practice.

'Child labour is a social evil that deprives our children and adolescents of their fundamental right to education,' Majhi said. He added that freeing society from child labour 'is not merely the responsibility of the administration; it is a collective duty of all of us.'

The Data Gap at the Heart of the Drive

The campaign comes against a backdrop of significant data deficiency. The last dedicated state survey, conducted in 1997, identified 2,15,222 child labourers in Odisha. According to the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, no systematic statewide survey has been conducted since then — meaning the current scale of the problem remains officially unmeasured nearly three decades on.

This is a notable gap: policy responses built on nearly 30-year-old figures risk misaligning resources with ground realities. The Commission's acknowledgement of the survey vacuum adds an accountability dimension to what is otherwise framed as an awareness campaign.

Why Gandhi Jayanti Was Chosen

The timing of the launch on Gandhi Jayanti is both symbolic and strategic. Mahatma Gandhi's emphasis on the dignity of labour and the rights of the marginalised gives the campaign a moral anchor. Chief Minister Majhi framed it as a collective resolve taken on this occasion — elevating the initiative beyond routine governance into a social compact.

The Broader Vision: Samruddha Odisha

Majhi linked the campaign directly to the state's long-term development blueprint, stating that the 'holistic development of children is a key foundation for achieving the goal of a Samruddha Odisha (Prosperous Odisha).' The appeal to citizens was direct: 'Let us all work together to help build a child labour-free Odisha, where every child can dream and is empowered to achieve those dreams.'

With the campaign set to conclude after 44 days, attention will now turn to whether the state pairs this awareness drive with a fresh, comprehensive survey — and concrete enforcement mechanisms — to give the effort lasting impact.