Rallies mark Children’s Day celebrations

On Children's Day, 25K students in Thiruvananthapuram took part in a rally organised by Kerala State Council for Child Welfare. CM Pinarayi Vijayan urged to nurture critical reasoning and protect children's rights. Women and Child Welfare Minister Veena George presented Ujjwala Balyam awards. Students' Haritha Sabhas were organised to make local self-govt. institutions garbage-free by 2024.

Rallies taken out by hundreds of school students highlighted the festivities that marked the Children’s Day observance in the State capital on Tuesday.

Over 25,000 students, including those from the tribal areas of the district, are estimated to have taken part in the rally organised by the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare. The rally was flagged off by General Education Minister V. Sivankutty at the University Stadium and later concluded at the Nishagandhi auditorium.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose message was read out in his absence, said the architects of the Constitution, including the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, had envisioned an India that is free of violence and exploitation of children. Affirming that the government would pursue an unrelenting stance towards violence against children, Mr. Vijayan also emphasised on the special focus that is ensured to develop the physical and the mental health of children in the State through various schemes.

Mr. Vijayan also cautioned against the threat posed by the propagation of superstitions and regressive thoughts through social media. Children should be encouraged to nurture critical reasoning and lead lives beyond the boundaries of caste, religion, gender, language, country etc., he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Women and Child Welfare Minister Veena George said this year’s Children’s Day will be marked as an historic day with the verdict in the Aluva child murder case.

Stressing on the role of the public in protecting children’s rights, she called for wholehearted efforts to nurture the unique talents of each child.