Signature Campaign agains Child Labour Organised

Ongole: The eradication of child labor from society will only be possible when the government, voluntary organisations and public start working hand in hand, said the secretary of District Legal Services Authority and senior civil judge T Raja Venkatadri.

He attended as chief guest at a signature campaign programme organised by the Girl Advocacy and Child Line 1098 as part of observing the World Day against Child Labour at District Collectorate here on Tuesday.

Speaking at the programme, Raja Venkatadri said that as per the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, every child under the age of 14 years must be in school and should not work anywhere.

He said that the Act offers the children-free and compulsory education from the government by providing infrastructure and scholarships to the poor children and it was the responsibility of each one of the public to mould the children as best citizen.

K Ramesh, district coordinator of HELP Girl Advocacy said that they had conducted many meetings in the district to create awareness on the child marriages and child trafficking by coordinating with the government, voluntary organisations, corporate companies and public.

He assured that the organisation would continue to create awareness in the public in future.

P Mantra Naik, coordinator of Child Line 1098 said the children in distress and below 18 years of age can contact them by dialing toll free number 1098.

They would work to rescue child labour with the help of the Labour department and provide better future, he added.

The HELP programme officer, BV Sagar, NVS Murthy, representatives from Child Line M Murali Krishna, D Devakumari, P Pratibha and Ch Sudheer participated in the programme.

The signature campaign was also held at the railway station and RTC Bus Stand and they created awareness in the public by explaining adverse affects of child labour on society.