Observation of

World Day against Child Labour On 13th June 2017, the Sisters, Staff and Lay Partners of the Good Shepherd in collaboration with St. Palloti Junior College, Amaravathi organized a Rally and Public Meeting to create awareness among the various sections of people in Amaravathi region. At 10 in the morning, the Sisters, Staff, Lay Partners of the Good Shepherd Convent, Amaravathi, Professors and Students of St. Palloti Junior College, Amaravathi gathered together in St. Palloti Parish campus for a public meeting which was facilitated by Mr. L. Laxman, Project Coordinator. As many as 124 members actively participated in this programme.

Fr. Rayappa, Parish Priest of St. Vincent Palloti Parish, Amaravathi, Fr. Joji, Correspondent of St. Palloti Junior College, Amaravathi, Sr. Flora, Good Shepherd Convent, Amaravathi and Mr. T. Laxman, the Project Coordinator and member of Amaravathi Child Protection Committees addressed the gathering on the issues of children, especially on the issue of child labour prevalent, despite stringent punishment accorded to those who employ them. Fr. Joji, in his address said that, if parents were to send their children to school regularly, there will not be any child labour practice. Fr. Rayappa applauded the commitment of the Sisters in protecting and promoting the rights of children at the District-level through various efforts, including CHILDLINE 1098 in Guntur City.

In the august presence, Sr. Flora, Good Shepherd Convent, a poster on the protection of children, designed especially for this occasion was released for the purpose of educating the public on the need for promoting child rights. Later, the Students and the invitees took a public rally along the main streets of Amaravathi town to mark the day with slogans on the rights of children. The rally started from St. Palloti Parish Church passed through the bus stand, town cross roads and Shivalaya Temple. The participants at street corners stood in circle to draw the attention of the public and raised slogans in promotion of child rights. This news of the public rally and the public meeting was splashed in 5 leading dailies in the Telugu language for others to get to know the rights of children.

Let Us Protect Child Rights

(Translation of the Newsclipping below)

Name of the Newspaper: SHAKSHI (WITNESS) 14th June 2017, Amaravathi

Amaravathi: If children’s rights were to be protected, parents have to play a pivotal role of sending regularly to school, said Fr. Joji, the Correspondent of St. Palloti Junior College, Amaravathi. On the occasion of the observation of World Day against Child Labour, the Good Shepherd Convent, Amaravathi in collaboration with St. Palloti Junior College, Amaravathi organized a rally and public meeting to mark the day. Mr. T. Laxman, Project Coordinator and member of Amaravathi Child Rights Protection Committee, coordinated the rally and the public meeting. As per the Right to Education Act, no children below the age of 14 can be employed in any work place. Fr. Bala Rayappa, the Parish Priest of St. Palloti Parish, Amaravathi appreciated the efforts of the Good Shepherd Sisters in promoting the rights of children. In the presence of Sr. Flora from Good Shepherd Convent, Amaravathi a poster designed especially for this occasion was released to protect and promote the rights of children. Srs. Vinnarai, Priyanka, College Students and Professors actively participated in the rally and public meeting.

“If we are ever to have real peace in this world we shall have to begin with the children”.

- Mohandas K. Gandhi