Other States - Puducherry   

`Kalaimamani awards' announced for proficient children

Special Correspondent

Mithi moots Protection Society to prevent child abuse

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

PRIZE FOR TINY TOT: Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi felicitates a prize-winning child at the Children's Day celebration in Puducherry on Wednesday. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy (left) is also in the picture.

Puducherry: Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi has made a strong case for establishment of a Child Protection Society with the Welfare Department as nodal agency to initiate steps to protect children from `menace of abuse'.

Distributing prizes to children, who were proficient in various competitions conducted by Women and Child Development Department in connection with Children's Day celebrations here on Wednesday, Mr. Mithi said that child specialists, psychologists, delegates of non governmental organizations and senior lawyers could be associated as members of the Society, which could also promote talents and capabilities of the tiny tots.

Educational facilities

Lauding the steps taken by the Government to promote educational facilities for children under Sarva Siksha Abiyan (Education for all), nutritional health of children and pregnant women and lactating mothers, the Lt. Governor said that the child mortality rate in Union Territory had come down to 22 per thousand live births now from 73 in 1961. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who felicitated the prize-winning children, said that very soon the administration would confer `State Kalaimamani' awards on children found to be proficient and creative in performing arts, music and literature and this scheme would cover children in the age group of six to 15 years.

With education having been made compulsory to achieve cent per cent enrolment of young kids in schools, there was no serious incidence of child labour here. M. Ramadoss MP wanted special attention given to children in villages in their educational advancement.

Welfare Minister P. Angalan and R. Viswanathan MLA, Secretary to Welfare and Revenue department T.M. Balakrishnan, chairman of Oulgaret municipal council N.S.J. Jayabal and Director of the Department of Women and Child Development Mrs. Devi Mathews were among those who spoke.

Children presented fancy dress competition and cultural programmes at the end.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

`Kalaimamani awards' announced for proficient children
Secondary Education Board to function soon
Mithi criticises claim by Chinese Ambassador
Murder accused surrender
Rally to generate awareness of diabetes

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu