Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah bats against child labour, asks people to report those forcing kids to work

“The employment of children is a punishable offence. There should be awareness in this regard in society among the public, parents and businesses,” Siddaramaiah said.

According to the pledge that was read out by Siddaramaiah, if a child is forced to work, then the employer has to be reported to the police and efforts should be made to admit the child in an educational institution.

The Karnataka CM quoted the Constitution of India and said every individual in the country has the Right to Life and Education and no child should be forced into labour.

He added that the state government had in the past provided mid-day meals and basic facilities in schools to ensure full participation of children and promised that the government would continue to do the same in future.

The event concluded with a bicycle rally to KR Circle in order to spread awareness. The main objective of World Day against Child Labour according to the UN is to tackle child labour and to eliminate the practice.

The slogan for this year’s World Day against Child Labour is “Social Justice for All, End child labour” which lay emphasis on the relationship between child labour and social justice.