Indian Community Welfare Organisation in Salem hosted an awareness program against child labour

 On the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour , the Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO), Salem , Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with Just Rights for Children (JRC), the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), and the District Labour Welfare Department , organized a large-scale child labour awareness programme at the Salem Collectorate and various workplaces in the Salem New Bus Stand area.

During the programme, a pledge against child labour was administered by Thiru. Ilambagavath, I.A.S. , District Collector, Salem, in the presence of Thiru. Ravikumar , District Revenue Officer ; Tmt. Shalini, Personal Assistant (General) to the District Collector ; Thiru. Raghavan, Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) ; Thiru. Sankar, Social Security Scheme Officer;Thiru. Sri Murali, District Child Protection Officer ; and Thiru. Anbalagan, Labour Inspector.

Following the pledge, awareness activities were jointly conducted by the DCPU, Labour Department, and ICWO team, including Mr. Murugan, Project Coordinator , ICWO Salem, along with Ms. Arulselvi and Ms. Subiclara , to prevent child labour and promote children's rights. Awareness programmes were carried out at KV Tex , Mangal & Mangal , Siva Textiles, Pothys, The Chennai Silks , and various factories in the Salem New Bus Stand area.

More than 523 workers, government officials , and members of the general public participated in the programme. All participants pledged to eliminate child labour and safeguard the rights of every child. The programme successfully strengthened awareness on child labour prevention and reinforced the collective responsibility of society to ensure a safe, secure, and child-friendly environment for all children.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. A.J. Hariharan,Secretary, ICWO, emphasized that child labour continues to deprive children of their fundamental rights to education, protection, health, and a dignified childhood. He stated that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve their full potential in a safe environment free from exploitation. He appreciated Just Rights for Children (JRC) for spearheading child rights initiatives and organizing impactful awareness programmes across India to combat child labour and child exploitation. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the District Administration, DCPU, Labour Department, government officials, ICWO staff, volunteers , and all stakeholders whose dedicated efforts ensured the success of the programme. He reiterated ICWO's commitment to working collaboratively with government departments and civil society organizations to create a child labour-free society and protect the rights of every child.

The programme concluded with a strong call for collective action, urging employers, parents, educational institutions, government agencies, and the public to remain vigilant and actively contribute towards eliminating child labour and building a brighter future for all children.

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