Eradicate Child Labor to Safeguard Children’s Golden Childhood, Urges Senior Civil Judge Jaibunnisa

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Mangaluru : Collective social responsibility is imperative to permanently uproot the menace of child labor, asserted Senior Civil Judge Jaibunnisa during her inaugural address at the World Day Against Child Labor event. The convention, jointly organized by the Dakshina Kannada District Administration, District Panchayat, District Legal Services Authority, Mangaluru City Corporation, the Labour Department, and various allied state departments, was held at the Netravati Auditorium of the Zilla Panchayat. Judge Jaibunnisa emphasized that awareness campaigns and rallies must transcend being mere single-day formalities; they must instead evolve into sustained, relentless crusades where citizens actively report infractions to the Labour Department to ensure comprehensive eradication.

Highlighting childhood as a golden period of opportunity, the Judge warned that forcing minors into employment inflicts irreversible physical, psychological, and educational damage, stripping them of their right to learn and play. Such deprivation and exposure to unsafe working environments often diminish their physical resilience, rendering them highly vulnerable to social evils like smoking, alcoholism, and substance abuse. She firmly called upon society to dismantle this oppressive system and allow children to fully experience their formative years. Furthermore, she stressed the need for rigorous awareness drives targeting employers, reminding business owners that hiring individuals under the age of 18 is a severe criminal offense carrying stringent prison sentences and hefty monetary fines ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000.

Echoing these sentiments, Jayalakshmi Raiakoda, the Deputy Secretary of the Dakshina Kannada District Panchayat, stated that children should be channeled into life-skill development programs rather than hazardous, income-generating labor that destroys their health and future. Describing child labor as a severe socio-economic malady, she highlighted the pivotal responsibility of parents. She noted that parental duties extend beyond basic upbringing; guardians must act as primary defenders of child rights, and educating them on the true value of childhood can significantly deter anti-social elements from exploiting vulnerable minors.

The official seminar was presided over by Assistant Labour Commissioner Nazia Sultana. The event witnessed the presence of several prominent dignitaries, including Gokuldas Nayak (Joint Director of the District Industries Centre), Rajesh Mishrakoti (Deputy Director of the Factories and Boilers Department), Rennie D’Souza (Director of PADI NGO), DYSP Manjunath R.B., Jagadish (President of the Bar Association), G.S. Shashidhar (Deputy Director of the School Education Department), and Project Director Srinivas. Earlier in the day, the initiative kicked off with a massive public awareness rally originating from Urvastore and concluding at the Dakshina Kannada District Panchayat premises. The formal gathering commenced with a welcome address by Senior Labour Inspector Ganapathi Hegde, concluded with a vote of thanks by Labour Officer Wilma, and was smoothly anchored by Umesh.