Patna: The state government authorities have announced a renewed push to end child labour in Bihar, using a combination of stricter enforcement, financial rehabilitation schemes and local awareness campaigns.
The measures were outlined at a workshop held on Thursday at the Dashrath Manjhi Labour and Employment Studies Institute in Patna to mark Child Labour Eradication Day – 2026. The event was organised by Bihar’s labour resources and migrant workers welfare department.
Senior officials, who attended the workshop included the department secretary – Deepak Anand; chairman of Bihar State Child Labour Commission – Ashok Kumar; commission’s vice-chairman – Arvind Kumar Singh; and Bihar labour commissioner Rajesh Bharti.
Ashok Kumar said employing children was a criminal offence and described child labour as a serious barrier to development. He said Bihar could not achieve its ambitions while children remained out of school and trapped in work.
He said the commission had formed taskforces at district, block and the village council levels to identify child and adolescent workers, secure their release, support rehabilitation and ensure access to education.
Kumar added that street theatre, media outreach, social media campaigns and workshops were being used to improve public awareness and encourage communities to report violations.
Arvind Kumar Singh said, child labour persisted despite laws banning employment of children under 14, largely because of poverty and illiteracy. He said rescue teams, inspections and community monitoring were being used to prevent children returning to labour after release.
Deepak Anand said Child Labour Eradication Day was a reminder that “There should be no place for child labour in a civilised society”. He called it a social crime and said all citizens had a moral duty to help provide children with education, healthcare and dignity.
He also praised labour enforcement officers and labour superintendents, saying cooperation between departments had strengthened efforts to tackle child labour.
According to Anand, Indian law allows penalties of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000, jail terms of six months to two years, or both, for employers who hire children under 14 or adolescents aged 14 to 18 in hazardous workplaces. Repeat offenders can face up to three years in prison.
He said Bihar was recovering Rs. 20,000 from convicted employers for deposit into a child labour rehabilitation and welfare fund, with the state adding Rs. 5,000 for each rescued child. An additional Rs. 25,000 is to be made available to each child through the chief minister’s relief fund.
The department also said shelters for children released from labour were being developed, where they would receive education, skills training and access to welfare schemes.
During the workshop, speakers discussed progress and continuing challenges in tackling child labour, labour codes and construction worker welfare. Children from a voluntary non-profit organisation performed a short play highlighting the human cost of exploitation.
Three children who had been freed from child labour were each presented with cheques worth Rs. 25,000.
Closing the event, labour commissioner Rajesh Bharti said Bihar could only become free of child labour through public awareness, community participation and coordination across departments.
