Books, not tools, belong in children’s hands: Judge

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Schoolchildren taking out an awareness rally to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, in Mysuru on Friday. | Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

“Children are the future of the nation. Books should be in their hands, not tools,” said Senior Civil Judge Nagaraju S. Ankasadoddi, calling for collective efforts to eradicate child labour and safeguard children’s rights.

Speaking after inaugurating the World Day Against Child Labour programme at the Krishnaraja Auditorium of Maharaja Government Pre-University College here on Friday, he said creating awareness against child labour and protecting children’s rights was a shared responsibility of society.

The programme was jointly organised by the district administration, the District Legal Services Authority, the Labour Department, the Women and Child Development Department, the School Education Department, the Police Department, the Social Welfare Department, the District Child Labour Project Society, Childline 1098, and voluntary organisations.

Expressing concern over the continuity of child labour, Mr. Nagaraju said many children continued to be forced into work away from public scrutiny. He urged citizens to immediately alert the authorities whenever they came across instances of child labour so that the affected children could be rescued and given opportunities for a better future.

He noted that poverty, illiteracy, social inequality, and the lack of access to education were among the major factors driving child labour. The practice not only deprives children of their childhood but also affects their physical, mental, and intellectual development, he said.

Pointing out that the employment of children below 14 years of age in hazardous and commercial activities is prohibited under the law, he said laws alone could not eliminate the problem unless every citizen fulfilled his or her social responsibility.

Assistant Labour Commissioner Lalitabai stressed the importance of education in eliminating social evils and discrimination, and urge