Efforts were on to bring back a total of 784 school dropouts to the mainstream of education as an indirect step towards having a permanent end to the child labour system in the district, said Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao.
Presiding over the World Anti Child Labour Day celebrations organised by the district administration, Labour Department and District Child Labour Project Society at School of Social Works, Roshni Nilaya here on Tuesday, he said awareness programmes were being organised at Gram Panchayat levels in order to create a strong attitude against the evil system at the grassroots level.
Citizens should join hands with the efforts of the district administration and Labour Department to eliminate child labour system by taking oath that they would not engage children in domestic works, he appealed.
Poverty, hunger, illiteracy and similar factors are causing the continuation of the child labour system in the society. Children between 6-14 are giving up their education due to this evil system and losing their beautiful childhood, Mr Rao observed. Speaking on the occasion, School of Social Works (Roshni Nilaya) Principal Jacintha Lobo expressed her worry that though statistics speak about the decline in the number of child labourers, the reality was disheartening.
Parents should provide a congenial environment to their children, by showing sufficient love and affection to them with a view to prevent their exploitation. They should also give proper support to the children’s talents, she advised.
In his introductory address, Labour Department Assistant Commissioner Mallikarjuna L Timmoli said child labour system was nothing but the evil tradition set by the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. The capitalists, whose intention was mere making money by giving less wages, started exploiting children. Hunger and poverty did not allow the people to think seriously about the problem, which gradually resulted in a deep-rooted curse for the society, he noted.
On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao felicitated a student Manoj who was rehabilitated after being a child labour, and passed the VI standard with ‘A’ grade.
District Child Labour Project Society Director U Chandravathi instructed oath to the children.