Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore

Mangalore, Jun 12: "We are happy that child labor is less in our district compared to other districts but we should not stop here, it is our duty to extend our voluntary support in making the society free of child labor," said Chaudapurkar Arun, district sessions judge and president of district legal services authority.

Inaugurating the ‘world day against child labour’ programme observed at Town hall on Wednesday June 12, Arun said in my past experience, I have seen lot of child labourers working in garage, hotels, and industries. When we study their situation in detail we come to know that children are from poverty stricken family or from a joint family.

It is our duty to identify child laborers and help them to fulfill their dream by granting education and other helps through which we can give meaning to this programme, said Chaudapurkar Arun.

The programme was presided by district commissioner N Prakash while DR K N Vijayprakash, CEO of zilla panchayat, DCP Dharmaiah, GN Subramanya, senior civil judge, Asha Nayak, president of Child welfare committee, Srikanth Rao, joint commissioner of MCC, DG Nagesh, advocate Nikesh Shetty among others were the guests of honor.

Students have to play a major role in eradicating child labor in the district and it is also a apt time for all of us to work towards it said ZP CEO K N Vijayprakash lauding child labor departments for doing good job in this regard. The number of child laborers is less in our district which is mainly because of intelligent people and as importance given to education in this district said CEO adding that the district has highest literacy rate and less dropout rate.

In his welcome address, DG Nagesh, assistant labor commissioner said any child working below 14 years of age is treated as child labor. As per the survey, Asia ranks top when it comes to child labour. Briefing in detail, he said India has about 2 crore child laborers; Karnataka has 8.5 lac comprising 91 % in rural areas and the rest in Urban areas.

On the ocassion, Asha Nayak distributed free school bags to as many 15 students.

The world day against child labour was organized by district legal services authority, Dakshina Kannada in collaboration with district administration and District Child Labour Project Society.