Plea to protect child rights, ensure happy childhood

 Ongole: “Children should be saved from all types of abuse, trafficking and violence and their right should be protected to enjoy a happy childhood and it is the responsibility of everyone,” said the District Legal Services Authority secretary and senior civil judge T Raja Venkatadri. 

He participated in the rally and signature campaign organised by the HELP, Girls Advocacy Alliance, Childline 1098, women and child welfare department as part of the weeklong child rights awareness programmes and observation of Childline Se Dosti programme in Prakasam district.

Speaking at the Collectorate, the secretary said that India approved the International Child Rights treaty in 1992 and since then “we are celebrating the child rights week.” 

He said that though there were child rights in force in the country, there were a lot of elements influencing their implementation. But, he said that creating awareness among public was the best way to see child rights implemented well in our nation.

The women Commission member, T Ramadevi said that the women and girls were facing discrimination and inequalities in society. She said that providing them equal opportunities in all fields helps their development.

The children welfare committee chairperson Ch Bharati said that encouraging girls and children to pursue higher studies saves them from child marriages and trafficking and other dangers. 

She asked the public to utilize the services of Childline 1098, child welfare committee to protect children from abuse. Later, the Collector Vadarevu Vinay Chand inaugurated the Childline Se Dosti poster. He assured that all departments in the district work in coordination for the protection child rights and child safety.

The HCM College girls tied a Childline se DOsti band to the Collector while the Childline district coordinator P Mantru Naik, representatives Murali Krishna, Deva Kuamri, Rajani, Pratibha, Nagavardhan, Koteswara Rao, Sasikanth also participated in the programme.