KOCHI: The week-long Children’s Day celebration organised by the district administration and the District Child Protection Unit kick-started at Thrikkakara on Tuesday. Inaugurating the programme, district panchayat president Asha Sanil said people should consider each child as a member of their own family to bring down child abuse and attacks. “Child labour is on the rise. Children seen at traffic signals selling various items are migrant kids. These children are also members of our family and any attack on them should be countered. Child abuse is increasing and the programme aims to impart awareness to curb these attacks,” she said.
District Collector Mohammed Y Safirulla flagged off the Children’s Day special vehicle rally organised as part of the awareness campaign to protect children from rising incidents of violence. The Collector distributed prizes to anganwadi kids who became victorious in various competitions held at the district level. ‘My Right My safety’ is the slogan of the week-long Children’s Day programme.
Students of social work from various colleges in the district are coordinating the programme. A street play and quiz by the students of Bharata Matha College was also held. Vehicle rallies were taken out in Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam and Perumbavoor. Thrikkakara municipal chairperson K K Neenu presided over the function.
District Panchayat vice-president M R Antony, District Child Protection Officer K B Saina, Haseena, Child Welfare Committee chairperson Padmaja Nair, District Social Welfare Officer Preethi Wilson, Panchayat and Child Protection Unit members attended the function.The district administration is organising the week-long celebration with the cooperation of various colleges, including Bharata Matha College, St Albert’s College, Yeldo Mar Baselios College and Kottapadi Mar Elias College.