CWC holds drive against child labour in Bandipora

Bandipora, July 26: Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Bandipora held a drive against the menace of child labour in the district on Tuesday which was attended by a large number of people, who vowed to play their part in eradicating the menace.
The drive was intended to serve as a catalyst for the growing movement against child labour and was part of Mission Vatsalya, government of Jammu and Kashmir.
CWC Bandipora chairperson, Dr Asima Hassan, who led the rally, said child labour can be eliminated if civil society and government focus on the root cause and understand social justice and child labour are interlinked.
CWC Chairperson thanked Director Mission Vatsalya, Harvinder Kour, District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), Bandipora Hidayat-ullah Mir for their support in making Kashmir and particularly district Bandipora as child labour free and providing support to children in need of care and protection.
“Child labour practices are a severe problem, and it is necessary to address this issue. Child labour robs children of their innocence, their rights, and normal childhood as they are forced to work in harsh conditions and often subjected to trauma,” she told the gathering.
During the event, six children were found involved in child labour in various commercial establishments. The owners of these establishments were warned to desist from engaging children and strict action will be taken against anyone found in such practices, Dr Asima said.
The parents of these children were counseled by the CWC Bandipora to admit them in schools. Officials from the Labour Department, Police, including SHO Bandipora and members of CWC Bandipora, including Mohammad Hashim, Shahnaza Sultan and Firdous Altaf were instrumental in making the drive successful.