The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Crusade against child labour

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Friday, Jun 08, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Crusade against child labour

Staff Reporter

Campaign demands free and compulsory education for all children

TOWARDS EDUCATION: Mayor R. Venkatachalam flagging off a school enrolment rally launched by the Centre for Social Education and Development at Coimbatore Collectorate on Wednesday. - PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

COIMBATORE: A campaign demanding free and compulsory education for all children was launched by the Centre for Social Education and Development (CSED) at the Collectorate here on Wednesday. The month-long school enrolment campaign, flagged off by the Mayor, R.Venkatachalam, aims to spread awareness on eradication of child labour.

Members of self-help groups (SHGs), teachers and students have been roped into this campaign, says C.Nambi, Director of the centre. "All children who have completed five years of age have to be sent to school," he says.

Integrating the dropouts back to schools and creating awareness among the parents to send their children to school are other aspects of the campaign. It will also include messages warning employers not to employ children below the age of 14.

The `vehicle campaign' is aiming at reaching out to 400 villages in four blocks of the district such as Avanashi, Sulur, Palladam and Tirupur. By involving more than 12,000 SHG members the reach would be better, as they would take the message across to the tiny rural pockets of the district, Mr. Nambi says. Around 50,000 handbills have been printed, which will be distributed in these villages in addition to pasting posters of the campaign in public places.

The campaign also makes an open appeal to all the knitwear and powerloom owners, small enterprises, trade unions and hoteliers to be aware of child labour and participate in the cause of complete eradication of it.

"Even though the Government has promised free and compulsory education up to Class X, the ground reality is different. Schools still demand donations," Mr.Nambi says. The campaign is also planning to involve the local bodies in the villages to mobilise support for the cause of education for all. It will also organise street plays and puppetry to attract the attention of children to this issue.

One of the major demands of the campaign is to take serious action against those who employed children under the age of 14. The Government should enforce the law, which bans child labour, the campaign stresses. Also, children who are seeking admission to schools should not be hassled with too many procedures involving certificates.

The CSED is willing to extend help to parents who do not possess birth certificates and other certifications necessary for school enrolment. The handbills also carry the number of the Coimbatore Chief Educational Officer - 0422-2391062.

Parents who experience problems regarding enrolment can contact the CEO's office in the number given above.

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