Who in the whole wide world can ever proclaim that fun and frolic is meant only for the creamy layer of children, and not for the under-privileged and poor?
Children’s Day celebrations at Gandhi Mandapam, Chennai proved it otherwise for more than a thousand who had gathered there to attend the state-level function organised by the State Child Labour Rehabilitation cum Welfare Society of the Department of Labour, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Velu Saravanan of Children’s Theatre entertained them all, with his skits and shows, that captured the imagination of young and old alike.
The Government had organised this function to bring the once-child-labour-afflicted children from 5 districts in Tamil Nadu, namely Kanchipuram, Namakkal, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai and Virudhunagar, where a special child labour eradication project has been working to send them all to school.
Children from Vellore district displayed 30 different games and activities in Mathematics and Tamil in the ‘Metric Mela’ event. One tiny nine-year-old enthusiastically said that even if his mother tried to force him to work, he would resist with a “Po Ma”, and continue his schooling!
Mr. T. M. Anbarasan, Labour Minister of Tamil Nadu, stated that the future of the country rests in the shoulders of all our children, who should go to school and take their learning seriously. He mentioned the various steps taken by the State Government to achieve complete eradication of child labour, such as encouraging free education for all needy children till they complete Class 12, with noon meal, scholarships, bus passes, uniforms and even slippers. It was inspiring to see children who once toiled in fireworks and match works factories, beedi industry, agriculture and so on receiving cash assistance from the Government to continue their college studies.
Dr. Lakshmidhar Mishra of the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi released two special booklets on Life Skills Education with colourful pictures and useful information. Ms. Surina Rajan, National Project Manager of INDUS Child Labour Project reiterated the pledge to fight against child labour by aptly singing the song, “We Shall Overcome”.
On Children’s Day, there would have numerous functions across the country, but this one was inspiring and eye-opening. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru would be very happy indeed that we too have a tryst with destiny about all children going to school!