Delhi govt starts child helpline to save children

New Delhi, Dec 2: Delhi has started a helpline to enforce a ban on child labour in the state. Apart from the Child Helpline - No 1098 - a mega campaign such as "say no to child labour" and "towards education for exploitation" have been launched by the Delhi government by including participation of different departments.

This information was given by the Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Madhup Vyas while chairing the Task force meeting of a ban on child labour.

Informing that the project would be implemented in all the nine districts of Delhi, Mr Vyas said,''Our sole motive is to implement the "Child Labour Regulation and Prohibition Act, 1986" in the whole of Delhi. Our main motive is to set a goal of making Delhi totally free from child labour.'' The Act imposes a total ban on employing children below 14 years of age in commercial shops, establishments, industrial ventures, hotels, 'dhabas', motels and homes.

Mr Vyas said the project has been given the shape of a pilot project in the North West district to sensitise people about the ill-effects of employing people below 14 years of age in Delhi.

He said the Delhi government has taken up many programmes to create awareness in people against this social evil. Banners, placards, handbills, posters and hoardings have been placed and distributed in Delhi at various sites and prominent places and campaign material has been dustributed among the people to make them aware of the ille effects of child labour.

The representatives of the resident welfare associations were appealed to participate in the rallies to further propagate the message against this social evil and its bad effects on the society.

UNI