Eradicating child labour is society's responsibility: Judge

Principal district and sessions judge Mohan S Sankolli said the onus was on the society to make children responsible citizens, by providing them with conducive environment.

He was speaking at a programme organised jointly by the District Legal Services Authority, Mysore Bar Association, police department, labour department and district administration to mark anti-child labour day here on Tuesday.

He said children should be encouraged to pursue their dreams. “Parents and society should share the responsibility of promoting talent among children. Society should contribute towards eradicating child labour and ensure that anti-child labour laws are enforced effectively,” he said.

Experience

He said experiences during childhood play an important role in the life of a person. They should be groomed to become an asset to the country, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, police commissioner K L Sudheer said the district was better compared to other districts in the case of employing child labour. He stressed on the need to know about laws better in order to implement anti-child labour laws effectively.

More than one hundred students, who were rescued from child labour participated in an awareness rally organised to mark the occasion. Placards with messages denouncing child labour and urging the society to ensure that education reaches all strata of society were carried during the rally.

Deputy commissioner P S Vastrad flagged off the rally at Town Hall, which passed through Gandhi Square, D Devaraj Urs road, JLB road and culminated at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry on Vinoba road.

He said programmes to improve awareness on anti-child labour laws should be held on a regular basis. It is important to inform parents about the effects of sending their children to work.

District labour officer Mohammed Zaheer said 1,209 children involved in child labour have been rehabilitated by the department in 2011-12.

Additional deputy commissioner Naga Nayak, district health officer S M Malegowda and others were present.