A week-long campaign against child abuse has been launched by various government departments and non-governmental organisations, on Friday.
Campaign coordinator Sister Sujatha said that Childline had rescued 96 children in Coimbatore between April and October from child labour, abuse, marriage, corporal punishment and drug abuse. As part of the campaign, street plays will be held in 33 locations across the city. Boards containing the contact numbers of Childline, the police, and the District Child Protection Unit would be put up at 40 locations.
Awareness Further, various contests would be held in Corporation schools for students of Classes VI to XII. A mass awareness programme would be held for women self-help group members on November 20. It would focus on child marriage, abuse, labour, and trafficking, she said.
Those involved in the campaign include School Education Department, National Child Labour Project, the Police, DCPU, Child Welfare Committee and Department of Social Welfare besides NGOs such as Childline India Foundation, District Child Forum and children’s homes such as Don Bosco, Marialaya, Saranalaya, Rhythm, Thiaga Oli Sudar and JCI Fire Vidiyal Trust.
Meanwhile, on Friday, students of Don Bosco Anbu Illam tied friendship bands on District Collector Archana Patnaik, City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan, and other officials to thank them for their efforts to protect children from abuse.
