The District Administration, along with Child Labour Abolition Support Scheme (CLASS), launched a sticker campaign against child labour on Tuesday at the Vellore Old Bus Stand. Collector P Sankar stuck the stickers on government buses and private vehicles as part of the campaign.
A total of 5,000 stickers carrying messages against employing children below the age of 14 were pasted on buses, autos and other vehicles in the city.
CLASS Project Officer Rajapandian said that a total of 90 shops had been sealed since 2007 for employing children below 14 years as part of the child labour eradication initiative. The committee had been conducting raids in commercial areas and had rescued 10 children in the last eight months. The raids were aimed at sending out a clear message to violators of the Child Labour (Prohibition) Act.
“Rescued children have been enrolled into special education centres run under CLASS. After a bridge course in these centres, children will be enrolled in regular schools,” he said.
A total of 1,363 child labourers rescued from match factories, mechanic shops, beedi units, poultry outlets and other places were enrolled in 53 special training centres in the district, he said, and added that nearly `16.93 lakh was collected from shop owners as fine.