THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has intervened to curb the practice of processions involving school children under the scorching sun for long hours in connection with various events held outside the school campus.
The Kerala State Commission issued a new order stating that processions involving children should end by 10 am.
In the order, Commission member Reni Antony recommended that rallies taken out in connection with events such as Independence Day and Republic Day should be held between 8 AM and 10 AM when the outdoor temperature is relatively bearable for children.
The order also directed to ensure that the interests of children are protected during the processions.
The child rights panel’s action comes in response to a complaint by Sreekumar Anandan, whose daughter is a student at Girls School, Karungapally in Kollam district. According to the complaint, many children of the school fainted during an Independence Day rally last year due to prolonged exposure to the scorching sun.
The rally, organized by Karunagapally Municipality, allegedly failed to provide the promised food and refreshments to the participating school children.
While issuing the order, the Commission noted that inordinate delays in making arrangements for programs involving children were ‘unjustifiable’
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