Efforts on to free world of child labour by 2025

Baghlingampally: the National Project Coordinator of International Labour Organization (ILO), Ranjith Prakash, said that they have been striving to make the world free of child labour by the year 2025.

He was speaking at the valedictory function of child labour prevention week organized jointly by State Resource Center and Telangana labour department at Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram on Wednesday.

Apart from Ranjith Prakash, State Resource Center director Gangadhar, Child Welfare Commission chairperson Shyamala, Deputy Commissioner of Labour Shyamsunder and others attended the programme. Prakash congratulated Telangana labour department for organising awareness rallies in 33 districts to raise awareness on elimination of child labour.

Gangadhar said that they organised awareness programs across the state in schools, colleges and government offices to increase awareness on the need for eliminating child labour, with the assistance from ILO. As most of the child labourers are working in agriculture sector, they are focusing on awareness and rehabilitation of child labour in this sector.

As per 2011 statistics, there were 3.3 lakh child labourers, but the number came down by 60 per cent, he said. As part of the valedictory programme, children from various voluntary organizations performed plays depicting child abuse and its effect on society.