Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has asked the people of Tamilnadu to respect the rights of children and sought the support of the people to make Tamilnadu a child labour-free State.
On the eve of Anti-Child Labour Day, the Chief Minister issued a statement regarding the ill-effects of employing children and the State’s performance in abolishing child labour.
He said Tamilnadu was the leading State where children below 18 years of age were banned from working in hazardous places. It also continues to work towards the complete eradication of child labour.
Palaniswami asked parents to take a pledge that they would not send their children to work and employers, to not employ child labourers.
He further said education was an asset and every child should go to school and enjoy childhood instead of working as a child labourer.
The State government was making every effort to rescue children from workplaces and give special care to nurture them.
“We have been providing food for children in schools, books, bags and uniforms to make the school environment as good as possible and relieving parents from the burden of buying those things to send their children to school,” pointed out the Chief Minister.
The Tamilnadu government was also providing free bus passes for students, laptops, and providing financial assistance to former child labourers who pursue higher education.