Mysuru: Children of Vidyodaya Makkala Hakkugala Okkuta have averred that Children’s Day would be meaningful only if the evil of child labour was eradicated from society.

Addressing a press meet at Patrakartara Bhavan here yesterday, the children sought the co-operation of everyone to evolve the city as child labour free. They alleged that thousands of kids were working even today at hotels, garages, scrap yards and farms. They added that child marriages too were in vague. They pointed out that such kids were deprived of education.

The Okkuta was formed in 2002 to mobilise children from slums in Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts with co-operation of Rural Literary and Health Project.

Okkuta Members Shankar, Abhishek, Sneha, Manju, Seema, Lavanya and Rakha were present at the press meet.