Odisha Labour Minister Reviews Welfare Schemes, Stresses Accountability and Monitoring

Odisha Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia has called for stronger monitoring, accountability and effective implementation of labour welfare schemes across the state. He directed district-level officers to conduct regular review meetings and ensure timely submission of progress reports.

The Minister issued the directions while chairing a state-level review meeting of field officers of the Labour Directorate at the Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhavan, in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

The meeting reviewed key initiatives and challenges related to labour welfare, enforcement and service delivery across Odisha. Several important issues, including the elimination of child labour, distress migration, construction of Labour Department offices, implementation of the PAReSHRAM Portal and ORTPS Act, grievance redressal and the functioning of various labour welfare boards, were discussed.

Revised Monitoring Mechanism for Labour Officers

Emphasising the need for stronger district-level supervision, Singkhuntia directed officers to follow a revised monitoring mechanism.

As per the new arrangement, Joint Labour Commissioners (JLCs) will review District Labour Commissioners (DLCs) and District Labour Officers (DLOs) on the 7th of every month. Similarly, DLCs will review DLOs on the 4th of every month, while DLOs will review Assistant Labour Officers (ALOs) and Inspectors on the 2nd and 17th of each month.

The Minister stressed that regular reviews and timely reporting would help improve the implementation of labour welfare programmes and ensure better service delivery.

Special Drive to Make Odisha Child Labour-Free by 2029

The meeting also focused on the special campaign against child labour, being conducted from October 2 to November 14, 2026.

The campaign aims to achieve Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s vision of making Gram Panchayats across Odisha child labour-free by 2029.

The Minister directed field officers to strengthen ground-level interventions, intensify monitoring and submit progress reports on time to ensure the effective implementation of the campaign.

Focus on Construction Workers’ Welfare

The meeting further emphasised ensuring that genuine construction workers receive the benefits of various government welfare schemes. Officials were asked to strengthen worksite inspections and expedite the construction and development of Labour Department offices across the state.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of coordinated action among officials to protect workers’ rights and improve access to welfare benefits.

Principal Secretary of the Labour and ESI Department Dodda Venkat Swamy and Labour Commissioner Indramani Tripathy were present at the meeting.

The review meeting concluded with an emphasis on strengthening administrative accountability and ensuring that labour welfare initiatives reach eligible beneficiaries across all districts.