BHUBANESWAR: With the BJD, BJP and Congress frequenting the Election Commission accusing one another of using children in poll campaigns, the chief electoral officer, Odisha, has urged all recognised national and state political parties to strictly adhere to the instructions and not involve children in any kind of election activities.
Additional CEO N Thirumala Naik, in a letter to the presidents and secretaries of recognised national and state political parties as well as recognised unregistered political parties, urged not to use children in any kind of election activities including campaign, canvassing of votes, distribution of posters and pamphlets, slogans or poll-related meetings.
As per the EC guidelines, holding children in arms, carrying them in vehicles or making them a part of election campaign or rallies will be considered as violation of the guidelines.
Further, use of children to create semblance of political campaign either by spoken words/poem/songs, display of insignia of political party or candidate, exhibiting ideology of political party, promoting achievements of a political party or criticising the opponent political parties or candidates shall not be resorted to, Naik stated.
He, however, clarified that as per the norms mere presence of a child accompanied by his or her mother/father/guardian or a child in arms of his/her mother/father/guardian in proximity of a political leader and who is not involved in any activity relating to election campaigning by the political party will not be construed as violation of the guidelines.
The political parties and candidates have also been asked to refrain from involving child labour in any election-related work or activities and ensure that there is no violation of any provision of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 as amended vide the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.
“The Commission has always taken strong exception to use of children in any way in election-related work and has issued instructions in this regard from time to time,” the additional CEO said while asking the political parties to strictly follow the previous instructions of the EC issued against engagement of children in election activities.