RTE- an effective tool against child labour

To mark World Day Against Child Labour, the National Child Labour Project (NCLP), in association with the Forum for Child Rights, launched a week-long awareness campaign at Swaraj Maidan in the city on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, City Police Commissioner AB Venkateswara Rao stressed the need to eradicate child labour through effective implementation of the Right to Education Act. “Everyone in society should strive to end child labour.

For this, first we need to create awareness among people. Greater emphasis should also be laid on alleviation of poverty, which is the root cause of child labour. Parents even if they are poor, should feel the responsibility of providing education to their children,” he said.

NCLP Krishna District Project Director D Anjaneya Reddy sought the support of NGOs and public to eradicate child labour. In the wake of increase in migrant labourers in the capital region, Anjaneya suggested that more emphasis should be laid on protection of child rights.

Later, the Commissioner of Police along with Joint Labour Commissioner MN Varahala Reddy and Krishna District Deputy Labour Commissioner N Suryanarayana administered an anti-child labour oath to participants. A signature campaign against child labour was also launched to mark the occasion.

Venkateswara Rao flagged off a rickshaw rally as part of the campaign. Brochures against child labour were released besides pamphlets on protection of child rights. Forum for Child Rights vice-president Fr Bala Showry and representatives of various NGOs were also present.