Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Welcome move

The ban by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the practice of engaging school children to welcome visiting politicians and dignitaries is welcome. All the States should emulate the move. It is pathetic to see children lined up under the scorching sun for hours to receive celebrities. They are made to stand as early as six in the morning and let off only when the function is over. That many students swoon does not seem to make any difference to the school authorities. Parents will feel indebted to Mr. Patnaik for putting an end to such harassment of children.

K. Ramesh,
Chennai

* * *

Children in many schools are used to fill auditoriums to inflate the numbers in functions that has no relevance to them. They are made to stand in the sun to welcome VIPs (who are invariably late). They are made to sing and dance in the name of cultural programme at functions with which they have nothing to do. All this is nothing but an infringement on the rights of children.

Sevalaya Murali,
Chennai

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