Curbs on using children in rallies
The commission ordered that children should not be brought in procession curbing their educational activities or by force
By : amiya meethal
Update: 2015-10-09 05:14 GMT
KOZHIKODE: The torture of children by making them walk in processions in blazing sun for many hours will no longer be allowed.
The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has stipulated that no children under 14 should be allowed to participate in processions for more than three hours.
The commission was acting on a complaint forwarded by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Malappuram about the harassment of children for taking out processions by schools and religious and social organisations.
Mr M.K. Moosakutty, lawyer, Tirur, had filed the petition after witnessing three processions held in Tirur last year. The commission ordered that children should not be brought in procession curbing their educational activities or by force.
During school days, children should not be rallied between 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. and during holidays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
All children participating in processions should take the permission from the district collector and the superintendent of police.
“Though children will enthusiastically take part in processions, their happiness should not be taken for granted. All child rights, including healthy food and medical facility should be taken care of,” said Mr Naseer Chaliyum, KSCPCR member.
“Increasing numbers of children are being used by religious, political and cultural organizers for their processions. The water and food served to the children are unhygienic. Besides, the procession would hamper the free flow of traffic for hours,” says Mr Moosakutty.
The Malappuram district child protection officer has reported that children had been rallied by major religious organizations during Milad-Sharif, SreeKrishna Jayanti and for the Golgotha walk carrying the cross.
The district social justice officer too admitted that children were made to wait for long hours to receive VIPs at functions.