VELLORE: Officials attached to various departments in the district took a pledge to eradicate child labour at the Collectorate on Thursday.
The day is being observed as the World Day Against Child Labour in many countries with the theme ‘Social protection-Keeping children out of work.’
Collector R Nanthagopal, who presided over the pledge-taking function, distributed `5.16 lakh as cash assistance to 86 students, who had been rehabilitated by the Child Labour Abolition Support Scheme(CLASS) being implemented in the district since 1995.
The 86 were rescued from child labour and after their initial schooling were continuing higher education.
According to the project director of CLASS M Rajapandian, as many as 1,316 children (643 boys and 673 girls), who had been rescued from various child labour activities in the district, were undergoing special schooling in 50 centres run by the CLASS programme.
District Revenue Officer Balaraman, joint director of Child Labour Welfare Jayabalan, project director of the District Rural Development Agency N Srinivasan and child protection officer Saravanan were among other officials present.