The future of a country depends on the prevailing education system and the literacy rate, said National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Project Director D. Anjaneya Reddy.
Speaking at an awareness programme on ‘Child Line’, here on Sunday, Mr. Reddy said that if the Government takes measures for strict implementation of laws framed for child rights protection and their welfare, education system would be good, which in turn will help in the nation building.
Stating that many departments including Labour, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), Education, Revenue, NCLP and Police are making efforts to eradicate child labour, he asked the volunteers to join hands in protecting child rights.
Strict laws
Explaining how a mother, Chaitanya, along with her paramour Nagesh, tortured her seven-year-old daughter, Nartana in Nellore district – and the court awarded five years imprisonment for the accused recently – the PD said that child rights and laws were so powerful, that the accused would be punished irrespective of their status and relationship.
Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Chairman Fr. Thomas Koshi appealed to the participants to take up campaign on the activities of Child Line and admit ten volunteers each.
He asked the volunteers to dial ‘1098’ and inform the Child Line members on child rights violations, if any.
The CWC member J. Jaya Raju said that Child Line was empowered to rescue the victims and provide immediate rehabilitation for them. Volunteers can pass on information to the Child Line, if they notice missing children, street, abused, abandoned, runaway, children, child labour, and trafficked children who are in need of help.
Child Line Director P. John Raju said that the organisation was extending services for the past 12 years in Krishna district. About 32,000 children were rescued, rehabilitated and was providing education for them, he said.
Forum For Child Rights city coordinator A. Ramesh, Child Welfare Officer T. Ravindranath Tagore and others spoke.
