Bhubaneswar: The Government of Odisha would work towards creating a model village free from bonded labour, said Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik while addressing the State Consultation on Human Trafficking and Bonded Labour organised in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
Speaking at the event, organised by SURAKHYA, a coalition of over 30 NGOs from across Odisha, the minister said the government would soon begin efforts to declare Nuapada a migration-free district. He also promised to issue labour cards to vulnerable workers as a safeguard against exploitation and trafficking.
The consultation provided a platform for civil society organisations, activists, and policymakers to deliberate on the persistent challenges of human trafficking and bonded labour, and the urgent need for preventive and rehabilitative measures.
During the event, the minister accepted a memorandum from the coalition and said that he will raise the demand for the formal observance of February 9 as Bonded Labour Abolition Day in Odisha, a practice already followed in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
The coalition strongly appealed to the state government to formulate a comprehensive State Action Plan (SAP) covering prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration, and prosecution, supported with clear timelines and adequate budgetary provisions. It also recommended the adoption of an Odisha-specific Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide coordinated action by departments such as police, labour, revenue, and women and child development.
“The observance of Bonded Labour Abolition Day across the state would keep the issue visible through awareness campaigns, cultural programmes, school and college events, training sessions, and surprise inspections,” said coalition representatives.
Explaining the significance of the proposed measures, coalition member Amiya Das noted that states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Delhi have already adopted SAPs and SOPs, leading to improved coordination and faster, more effective rescues in line with the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976.
With the government’s commitment and civil society’s proactive push, Odisha appears poised to take stronger steps towards eliminating bonded labour and ensuring safer livelihoods for its vulnerable communities.
