Education can eradicate child exploitation, says PM's wife

New Delhi, June 12 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur has highlighted the need to education the masses so as to eradicate the social evil of exploiting children and extracting work from them.

Addressing a seminar here on Friday, she said it was often that one hears about the cases of physical, mental and sexual abuse against children.

"The situation of secondary education needs urgent attention. Further the quality of school education needs to be far better so that the children learn to become self confident and self reliant," said Gurusharan Kaur.

The seminar was jointly hosted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNICEF and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

'Give Girls a Chance' happens to be the theme of this year's World Day against Child Labour.

Other delegates and speakers also stressed on the need to usher equity and justice among the girl children.

"There is a lot to do in relation to the girl child and that's why girl child is particularly targeted with this year's message because the girl children are not only having double burden.... because they not only work outside home but they also do a mammoth portion of household chores," observed Leila Tegmo, Representative of International Labour Organisation in India.

According to official estimates, around 12.6 million children under the age of 14 are employed in various occupations such as domestic servants and in teashops, restaurants and other odd jobs.

These children work in conditions adverse to their health and well-being.

They often have to handle poisonous chemicals, carry excessive weights and are usually overworked and underpaid, leave alone any time to play and giggle. (ANI)