Mysore/Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. K.V. Rajendra said that everyone should strive for making Mysuru district free of child labour.

He was speaking after presiding over the District Child Eradication Planning Society and Task Force Committee meeting at his Office in Siddarthanagar here recently. Pointing out that members of the public can call Child Helpline – 1098 if they come across any children involved in labour or any other hazardous works in their surroundings, Dr. Rajendra stressed that all concerned Departments should work to make the district child labour free.

Emphasising that the World Child Labour Eradication Day must be observed in a meaningful manner, the DC said that authorities must organise awareness week (Jagruti Saptaha) in all Gram Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies etc. Highlighting the salient features of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, the DC said, as per the Act, children below 14 years of age cannot be employed as labourers.

Asking the officials to see that all commercial establishments and other businesses put up a statutory board mentioning that children below 14 years will not be employed, he directed them to shut down shops and other commercial establishments which violate the Anti-Child Labour Act and also do not have trade licence. 

ZP CEO K.M. Gayathri and officials from the Police, Education, Social Welfare, Women and Child  Development, Labour and other Departments, members of local NGOs and others attended the meeting.