Industries to carry anti-child labor messages
ISLAMABAD (APP) – Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Zobaida Jalal has asked all those industries engaged in supply of consumer goods to carry anti-child labour messages on their products in order to eliminate this menace once for all.
“All those industries engaged in supply of consumer goods of daily use such as detergents, milk, tea, sugar should carry the message on their products to spread awareness on ‘Say No to Child Labour’ in Urdu and English as a part of corporate social responsibility,” she said.
The minister, in a message on the occasion of inauguration of a special centre for needy children, stressed the need for combined efforts to eliminate child labour and urged for nationwide survey on child domestic labour.
A special centre for education and skill training of children from poor families was inaugurated in a colony inhabited by low income people in Islamabad. The government-funded facility called Child Domestic Labour Centre set up at French Colony in the F-7/4 sector of the capital would focus on children working as domestic servants.
The minister said there is a need to develop a national level PC-1 to help expand this project to other parts of the country through our provincial and district offices.
She said a request would be made to the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights soon to declare Child Domestic Labour as the worst form of child labour and develop an appropriate legislation accordingly.
Chairperson Idara Taleem-o-Agahi (ITA) Baela Raza Jamil said the purpose of these centres is to ensure mainstreaming of the target children in the formal education system and provide them alternate non-exploitative livelihoods.
Four similar centers have already been established in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad by a government-assisted non-governmental organization Idara Taleem-o-Agahi (ITA).
The centres have facilities to impart training to children in various handicraft works and arrange courses for teaching spoken English, beautician skill and other programs covering information technology, health, hygiene and nutrition.
Chairperson ITA said that ten centres would be opened in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, five in each city.
She told that it is the fifth centre. Two centres are functioning at Habib Colony Rawalpindi and Kalyamabad Rawalpindi while one centre at F-6/2 Islamabad and other at Khattana Rawalpindi would start functioning soon.
Baela Raza said that 1000 to 1500 children would be targeted and a survey has been conducted in various areas of Islamabad.
She said that 350 children have been identified so far with maximum strength of female students who are being provided formal as well as non-formal education.
Chairperson ITA said the monthly stipend of Rs. 200 per month would be paid to each student or his family on the basis of 90 per cent attendance.
She said that 100 girls enrolled in vocational course and all other students are provided books, uniform and stationary.
The Chief Guest, Additional Secretary Jaleel Minhas visited the centre and assured every kind of assistance by the government in this effort against the menace of child labour.
Source: TheNation
Date:11/9/2007
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