'Coordinate to solve child labour problem'

Social initiative

People’s Legal Forum Secretary P P Baburaj said that though there are various schemes and programmes with departments for children in distress, no benefits reach the needy children.

He said that while the Labour Department deals with children below 14 years, Education Department addresses children in the age group of six-14 years.

However, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act deals with all children below 18 years. This has created confusion even among the officials, leave the people who are in need, he noted.  Baburaj said that an action plan comprising the following agenda was arrived at during the meeting: Publication of posters and handbills on the legal provisions against child labour. A Coordination Committee meeting of all departments and other stakeholders will be held at least once in two months.

Campaign for speedy implementation of compulsory education act in Karnataka. Pressure on government for livelihood opportunities for parents of child labour in domestic sector.

Sensitisation programme

Conduct sensitisation programmes for corporators and other politicians. Form an advisory board to address child labour in general and domestic girl child labour in particular.

Conduct media programmes on legal provisions, schemes that benefit children. Involving corporate sector to address child labour.

Inaugurating the meet, DCP (crime and traffic) Rajendra Prasad, noted that awareness on juvenile justice system, child's problems are very important for all agencies including the Police Department.

He opined that there should be three levels of interventions such as prevention of child labour, punishment for employer and rehabilitation of the child. One agency alone would not be able to prevent child labour. It could be done in coordination with various stakeholders, he added.

District Labour Officer Govindappa, Child Welfare Committee Chairperson N T Venkatesh, BEOs Dr Kantha, Raghunandan and Karigowda, CDPO Manjunath, Farmers' leader Kurubur Shantakumar, Harihara Ananthaswamy of DSS, Sub Inspector Devamma, Journalist Ravindra Bhat, ODP Director Fr J B Xavier, DonBosco Director Fr Francis, Artist Baadal Nanjundaswamy, writer Manjunatha Latha, Timothy John, Noor Mohammed Merchant and others were present.