Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 12: “No child voluntarily gets involved in child labour. There are numerous elements working behind the scenes, which snatch away the opportunities that a child should have. These elements must be targeted and weeded out in time to ensure a burden-free life for children,” said Adaramani Boral, the chairperson of People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC), at a programme organised in the city Friday to mark the World Day Against Child Labour.
“Child labour is a critical issue. All stakeholders in the process have a crucial role to play to ensure that the menace is eradicated,” said PK Mohapatra, assistant labour officer from the city, at the state-level consultation programme on child labour at Soochana Bhawan, organised by PECUC and the National Centre for Child Rights.
“Parents, government agencies and NGOs need to work in tandem to eradicate the menace from society. Monitoring of child labourers is also very crucial to keep a track of victims,” said Mohapatra at the programme in which social scientists and educationalists, as well as several people from NGOs, government organisations, took part.
“Child labour is a sensitive issue. It is unfortunate that the menace exists. Many organisations are working to eradicate it, but we need a coordinated approach. Parents play a crucial role in checking child labour,” said Rajalaxmi Das, member, state child labour advisory board.
“There are many myths associated with education in our society. Many people still believe that education breaks a family as the educated class often migrates to cities leaving behind their roots and ancestors,” said noted educationist Debi Prasanna Pattanaik.
“These are major challenges that ought to be targeted to get rid of the menace that is affecting the lives of thousands of children,” he said.
“We are really concerned about the children working in several places at a tender age. The government must work towards liberating the children from this, but this is not happening. The Central government is working on amendments to child labour laws that are absurd. They are planning to make working of child in agriculture and other occupations out of the ambit of child labour,” said trade unionist SB Kar.
A seminar of child labour was also organised by World FVision India at the Regional Science Centre. The programme, which was attendedby Khurda Child Development Committee member Arun Kumar Pradhan, and corporator Nabakishore Behera, included a brainstorming session on the subject.
A round-table conference was also held at Red Cross Bhavan by city-based NGO Campaign for Child Labour to discuss the critical amendments to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Bill. A workshop on child labour was also held at a city hotel by Human Development Foundation-Centre for Development Action and Research.