CRY launches month-long awareness drive on child labour

Eminent actors like Prosenjit Chattopadhyay and Parno Mittra graced the event with their presence and spent quality time with children.

In the event, CRY announced the launch of an awareness campaign on Child Labour, to be driven by Kolkata Police. The month-long initiative comes as part of CRY’s campaign in Delhi and Mumbai Metros, with City Police coming on board to support the drive.

It was a mixed bag event full of mirth and merriment for children from CRY volunteer intervention areas at Dhapa, Dhakuria, Rajabazar and Howrah. More than 80 children participated in workshops on life skill building and learning self defence. Laced with it, were a series of dance and music performances by children’s groups.

  “It is so inspiring to see how children can create wonders when you focus on them,” said Subhrajit Sinha, GM, Strategic Planning, and a spokesperson for CRY.

“Not only do our volunteers make sure that the children are kept away from any kind of exploitation, but also work towards their all round development, encouraging them to achieve their full potential, Sinha added.  

However, for the volunteers it was more of a window to look back to their own childhood days. "It was almost a journey back to our own childhood that we have left behind and recollect the moments of pure, unadulterated joy,” Krittika, a CRY volunteer said.

Announcing the campaign, Mohua Chatterjee, Head of Programmes at CRY in the Eastern Region said, “We’re extremely delighted to have the support of Kolkata Police who have stood by us in this initiative. We all know that employing children is not only about ruining their childhood, but also about having them miss out on a chance of a happy and healthy childhood.”

The key attraction of the day was of course the presence of eminent actor Prosenjit Chattopadhyay and Parno Mittra that added glamour to the cause.

Addressing the issue of child labour Prosenjit said, “I do believe that when children drop out of schools and are sent to work they are denied of their rights to grow up as happy, healthy and creative children. If we would not like this to happen to our own children, should we allow this to happen to any child in our country? Should we not come together to ensure that all children get equal opportunity to live, learn, grow and play?”

“My appeal to all is, let us be aware and take a pledge that we will not employ children at any point – be it as domestic help or as shop-hands. Let us join hands together and make it happen,” Prosenjit added.

Highlighting that one in every 11 children in India is working as a child labour, Parno Mittra said, “We often tend to ignore the fact because it makes us uncomfortable. But it’s time we take a note and take action. I am here to support the cause and really appreciate CRY and Kolkata police’s joint initiative to take a stand against child labour.”

Elaborating how education can play a key role in tackling child labour, Ananya Chakraborty Chatterjee, Chairperson, West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights said, “We at WBCPCR do believe that children engaged in work and out of education are, in all senses, denied of their rights to development and protection. We want each and every citizen from all the walks of life to take note of this reality. The Commission urges them to come forward proactively to contribute so that underprivileged children are no longer employed in any kind of work and instead be brought back to school.

Jayanta Sengupta, Director, Indian Museum said, “The Indian Museum tries to be an inclusive museum, and we are very sensitive to all people with various challenges, and supportive of human rights. We have partnered with different voluntary, non-profit organizations to express our solidarity with their causes, and CRY of course champions the cause of child rights, which is very close to our hearts. So we eagerly look forward to continuing our partnership this year.”