Thiruvananthapuram: On their day, children wilt in heat till chief guest arrives

Thiruvananthapuram: It was supposed to be their day. But children, who had gathered to take part in the Children’s Day celebration organised by Kerala State Council for Child Welfare, had to stand in the hot sun for three hours before the start of their rally. The inaugural function, which was scheduled at 2.30 pm, was delayed by an hour, as the organisors were waiting for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to arrive from Kozhikode.

One of the members of the organising team told this paper that they were giving the Children’s Prime Minister S.S. Abhinavamirag, President P.R. Adwaith and other children’s representatives time to rehearse. The line-up of students was ready around 2 pm, but the rally started only by 5 pm. As the children waited, refreshments were provided. They did not have to stand directly under the sun as the school had trees. Still it was unbearably hot. A student of St Goretti’s HSS, Nalanchira, told DC, they were tired by the time the rally started.