Prof Shivaramu Kadanakuppe, litterateur inaugurated the campaign against girl child labour in domestic sector by signing the letter to the Deputy Commissioner and other heads of departments, in Mysore.
The letter consists of 10 demands which were formulated in various consultative meetings with officials, representatives of NGOs, civil society groups, artists, littérateurs, working children and their parents held during the past six months inthe city.
At a function held here, Prof Kadanakuppe hoped that the administration would take positive measures soon to stop child labour in domestic sector. Fr Joanes, Project Manager of Kiriya Pushpa Family Helper Project, P. P. Baburaj, secretary of People’s Legal Forum and M Mahadevaswamy of PLF were present.
The demands are: Take immediate steps to implement the right to education act in Karnataka, Form a coordination committee consisting of heads of departments such as education, women and child development, labour, backward and minorities, social welfare and panchayat raj, Child Welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Board, representatives of NGOs and media, and conduct review meeting at least once in two months.
Identify girl children in domestic sector and rehabilitate them immediately. Strengthen Child Welfare Committee to ensure care and protection of children in distress.
Take steps to ensure periodical rescue operations of child labour by all concerned departments. Provide livelihood training and economic support for the families of rehabilitated child labour.
Implement the order of Panchayat Raj Department to give priority in schemes and programs to the families of rehabilitated child labour.
Organise awareness programs on child rights and domestic child labour for members of City Corporation, Zilla Panchayat/Taluk Panchayat and Gram Panchayat.
Form an advisory board at the city level to conduct periodical review of child labour, especially girl child labour domestic sector.
The letter will be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner and other department heads after getting signatures of various people in the city.