Jajpur First in Odisha to Disburse Rehab Aid to Child Bonded Labour Survivors

Jajpur: Jajpur has become the first district in Odisha to provide rehabilitation assistance to rescued child bonded labourers under the Centre’s revised Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer Scheme-2026, with eight survivors receiving immediate financial assistance.

The eight children, rescued from six separate cases during 2024-25, were each provided ₹40,000 as Immediate Financial Assistance (IFA) at a programme organised by the district administration. They had been rescued from different workplaces, including mango orchards, cattle and goat-rearing units, dhabas and grocery shops, where they were allegedly engaged in exploitative labour conditions.

Under the revised scheme, a rescued child bonded labourer is entitled to rehabilitation assistance of up to ₹2 lakh. The framework provides for Immediate Financial Assistance of up to ₹40,000, which is adjusted against the final rehabilitation assistance payable to the survivor.

Accordingly, ₹3.2 lakh was disbursed to the eight children, marking the first disbursement under the revised scheme in Odisha.

The assistance was handed over during a one-day Convergence Training Programme on Bonded Labour and Human Trafficking at the Mission Shakti Conference Hall in Jajpur. The programme was attended by the Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Jajpur, along with BDOs, ABDOs, Tahasildars, Inspectors-in-Charge and other district-level officials.

The training focused on strengthening the district’s response to bonded labour and human trafficking, particularly in the areas of identification, prevention, rescue, legal intervention and rehabilitation.

Around 45 officials and frontline stakeholders from the police, revenue, rural development and child protection departments participated in the programme. Discussions centred on improving inter-departmental coordination during rescue operations, documentation, legal proceedings and post-rescue rehabilitation.

Officials stressed that rehabilitation must go beyond financial assistance and ensure that rescued children are able to return to education and access social protection and other government welfare schemes. A survivor-centric approach and timely departmental intervention were highlighted as essential for their long-term reintegration.

The first disbursement under the revised framework is being seen as an important step in strengthening rehabilitation measures for bonded labour survivors in Odisha. Jajpur’s implementation is also expected to provide a model for other districts to extend benefits under the revised scheme.

The district administration said continued coordination among departments would be crucial to prevent exploitation, ensure timely rescue and help vulnerable children rebuild their lives with greater security, dignity and access to opportunities.