Contestants take child friendly pledge

Parties are leaving no stone unturned in promising a ban on child- labour, promising textbooks and upholding rights of children

The way to votes is through the hearts of children is what the politicians feel in the forthcoming GHMC elections. And, political parties are leaving no stone unturned in promising a ban on child labour, promising textbooks and upholding rights of children.

When Aakula Seenayya of TRS from Uppuguda ward 44 met residents, he was handed a pledge form which consisted of eight points which he signed and promised to safeguard the rights of children. Addressing Uppuguda gathering Aakula Seenayya, TRS candidate contesting from Uppuguda division read out the full assurance note with on the dais and took a pledge and was the first person to sign the assurance note upon the request of CRPF volunteers.

Child labour is a major problem in the city and the public memory is still fresh of Operation Muskaan, which was launched by Hyderabad Police last year in which 330 children were rescued from bangle making industry.

The pledge form is a part of a campaign launched by Child Rights Protection Forum (CRPF) a civil society rights based group. The CRPF activists and volunteers are individually and collectively meeting candidates contesting for the GHMC elections and asking them to sign an assurance note that will make them responsible to protect Child Rights and commit to making Hyderabad free from child labour.

CRPF General Secretary Dhanasiri Prakash said that these assurance notes will be used to remind the winning candidates to keep their promise at a later stage. In all, close to 25 contestants from different parties have been approached by CRPF.

The major points in the pledge include making child labour free zone including commercial establishments as well as households, visit to schools in the ward every month, ensure RTE implementation to the full extent.