Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Schoolchildren used for campaigning

R. Sundaram

'Involving students unnecessary'

Erode: Employing children below 14 years is an offence and those who employ them will be punished.

No law

However, unfortunately, there is no law barring children being used for election propaganda.

"Earn while you learn," is a popular concept. But here students studying in class three and four are being used for the election propaganda by political parties.

Every day, about 10 boys and girls after finishing their school will go to the AIADMK office on Valayakara street, Erode. They will carry the placard of Jayalalithaa or Twin Leaves, go to the streets, raising the slogan "podungamma vote for Retta Ilaiyai parthu" (exercise your vote for AIADMK).

They go in a batch around Valayakara Street, Sathyamurthy Street, Radhakrishna Road and Agrahara Street. Some students go for the propaganda for the DMK by carrying the flags.

A boy Madeswaran says he may get some sweets and one or two rupees daily for the work.

Manyfeel that involving school children below the age of 15 is unnecessary.

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