Kids say thank you, Bapu style

Rescued children form a human chain at Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi on Tuesday to mark World Day Against Child Labour. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Gandhigiri seems to be the season’s flavour.

This World Day Against Child Labour, the state capital saw rescued child labourers gifting red roses, not as a mark of protest but rather token of appreciation, to those who refused to employ minors as domestic helps.

A joint venture of the state labour department, Unicef, department of social welfare and NGO ATSEC (Action against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children), the drive will continue till June 25.

The campaign kicked off with labour department officials and nearly 3,000 rescued children from various blocks of Ranchi district, including Mandu, Murhu and Chanho, forming a human chain extending from Albert Ekka Chowk to Kali Temple.

State labour commissioner Aradhana Patnaik flagged off five vehicles from Albert Ekka Chowk.

Each vehicle had one volunteer, one labour department official and four randomly selected students of National Child Labour Project schools. The teams on wheels went to different areas and offered roses to “responsible” citizens, who abided by the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986.

Besides red roses, they distributed anti-child labour posters and leaflets at residential complexes, government colonies, apartments, dhabas, hotels et al. The children also played music and raised slogans.

“We will host painting competitions and street plays near railway stations and schools on the theme of child labour,” said Patnaik, the brain behind the novel idea.