'Create awarness on child labour'

Indepth study to frame policy to eradicate child labour, need of the hour

He was speaking after inaugurating ‘World no child labour day’ and legal awareness programme organised jointly by District Legal Services Authority, district administration, Zilla Panchayat here at Nethravati auditorium on Sunday. He said “there was a need to have a detailed study on child labour and frame a policy to eradicate it. There are about 20 crore child labourers in the world. Children are losing their right to get educated with child labour system.”

There is a need to identify child labourers and frame long-term and short-term programmes to find a solution to the problem.

Department of Women and Child Welfare Deputy Director A Shakunthala said “a committee has been constituted in every gram panchayat to check child labour system. If any child below 14 years is found working as child labour, then public can inform women and child welfare department and CWC. One can dial 1098 to alert on child trafficking.”

She said that there are 41 child care institutions in the district. The child labourers are given education through Prajna Counselling Centre in the district.

Legal Services Authority Member Secretary R V Patil spoke on Juvenile Justice Act, and other laws related to child labour. Mangalore Bar Association President S P Chengappa said that a team of lawyers will create an awareness on child labour system among school kids. District and Sessions Judge H R Deshapande presided over the programme.

Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Chief Project officer Mohammad Nazeer, Assistant Labour Commissioner Venkatesha Appayya Shindihatti and others were present.
As many as 25 kids who are under the care of the government were present and few shared their experiences as child labourers.