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Parents’ help sought to abolish child labour

PUDUCHERRY: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Wednesday appealed to the parents to help their wards avail themselves of various concessions offered by the government to promote education in the Union Territory.

Launching a week-long awareness programme to highlight the need for eliminating child labour, he said the government’s schemes such as providing free breakfast, mid-day meal and milk for schoolchildren were aimed at reducing dropout rate.

Flaying the establishments that employed children in hazardous or non-hazardous industries, Mr. Rangasamy said the attitude of some parents who send their children for work could not be appreciated.

Though a survey conducted by the Labour Department in 1997 indicated that there were 617 child workers in the Union Territory, another survey conducted in 2002 identified 520 under 14-children idling at home and working as labourers, he said. The school dropout rate had come down owing to the steps taken by the government, he added.

Mr. Rangasamy also released stickers highlighting the need to eliminate child labour.

Rehabilitated child workers presented a cultural programme at the function.

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