Considering the shortfalls observed in the 2001 action plan initiated by the state government to eliminate child labour in Karnataka, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said, the seven-year plan will be extended to ensure that the state is free from child labour.
He was speaking at the ‘World Anti-Child Labour Day’ organised by the Department of Labour here on Tuesday.
He remarked that the government’s intention to make the state free from child labour could be achieved only with the support of people. Gowda said, “Children of today’s generation are the real powers of our nation. They should be provided with proper education and their personality should be molded.”
“From 2001, 18,915 cases were filed against those violating child labour laws, and a fine of `79.18 lakh was collected in 1,322 cases” he added, stating that 1,07,947 children were rehabilitated, who were picked up during 3,63,860 raids conducted since 2001.
“Our main aim is to eradicate child labour. Like in other states, we too are planning to rise the age for defining the age of child labour to 16 years,” said Labour Minister B N Bachchegowda.
More than 5,000 children from about 40 schools across the city participated in an awareness campaign, which started from Freedom Park and converged at Kanteerava Indoor Stadium.