Date:13/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/13/stories/2008111352420300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tuticorin

Make efforts to curb child labour, says Collector

Staff Reporter

Need for programmes to boost confidence level of children

— Photo: N. Rajesh

Strong appeal: Collector R. Palaniyandi addressing a workshop in Tuticorin on Wednesday.

TUTICORIN: A programme to spread awareness about the abolition of child labour was organised here on Wednesday under the aegis of National Child Labour Project.

Collector R. Palaniyandi said that child labour was a pressing socio-economic and human rights issue. “Children go for employment as they are deprived of adequate education, good health and basic freedom. A progressive approach to motivate the student fraternity through educational inputs can help children,” he added.

Mr. Palaniyandi called for making all necessary efforts to curb child labour and urged for intensive programmes for building the confidence level among children through education.

He said that there were 17 child labour schools functioning in the district, he added. “The need of the hour is creation of an environment where the community will not tolerate child labour in any form,” the Collector said.

R. Natarajan, Project Director, M.V. Selvam and V. Ravindran, Child labour field officers, Govindarajan, Inspector of Labour and S. Vijaya Ragavan, Municipal Commissioner, Kovilpatti, were among those who took part in the awareness programme.