Udupi: District and Sessions Judge Shivashankar B Amarannavar said child labourers should be brought to the mainstream society by enrolling them back to schools.

Speaking after inaugurating World Day Against Child Labour programme organised by the District Legal Services Authority, in association with District Labour Department and Udupi Bar Association, he said making children work is utter violation of human rights.

Parents, who make their children work at an early age, should realise the importance of education. Children should be sent to schools for their overall personality development, he added.

He urged the officials to efficiently implement government schemes available for the betterment of the status of children. This would lessen the number of child labourers, the judge observed.

Senior Civil Judge Latha said people should stop engaging the children for labour in order to fulfil their selfish gains.

District Labour Officer Jnanesh said Udupi district is far better when compared to other districts in the state in the number of children working as labourers.

He said child labour is nothing, but engaging children below 14 years of age in labour by stopping their education and destroying their childhood and future.

He urged the people and the stakeholders in the society to come forward to eliminate the evil practice.

Elaborating on the number of child labour cases registered in the district, he said 1,134 cases have been investigated in 2015-16.

Among them, three child labourers were rescued and sent to the rehabilitation shelters.

Owners were held guilty in all the three cases and a fine up to Rs 20,000 is collected in one of the cases. He said the district has registered very less child labour-related cases when compared to 2014-15. If every individual comes forward to join hands with the department, days are not too far to make Udupi district child labour-free in the state, he said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Kumaraswami administered the oath against the child labour on the occasion.