Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today urged parents to take a vow not to send their children under 14 years of age to work. She called upon them to strive towards making Tamil Nadu a child compassionate state. She further said that parents should realize that the income got through exploiting children was a shame to the household. 

Every year June 12th is observed as the World Day Against Child Labour. In her message for the day, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said that the system of engaging children for work, straying from the principle of nurturing the welfare of children was cruel. She called upon every one to realize that refusing to educate a child was inhuman. 

Labour by the parents would add pride to the household and the country. Labour by children would only be humiliating to the nation. Ms Jayalalithaa urged that every child should be given the opportunity  to learn, to enjoy childhood and to reap the benefits of physical well-being. The Chief Minister asserted that the Tamil Nadu government headed by her had the high objective of making all the children valuable and safeguarding them as the wealth of  society. 

Tamil Nadu was a pioneer state in eradicating child labour. And, her government was implementing various schemes including free education, provision of nutritious mid-day meals, distribution of costless laptops, uniforms, text books, note books, cycles, foot wear, bags, geometry boxes, colour pencils and maps, online employment registration and distribution of incentives to reduce school dropouts and to help children get education with freedom and thereby lessen the burden on parents.  Parents should realize that the income got through the exploitation of children was a shame to the household. Ms Jayalalithaa urged all the parents to respect the rights of the children and to take a vow on the "World Day Against Child Labour" not to send their children below 14 years to work. She called upon the people to join hands in making Tamil Nadu a compassionate state in matters relating to child welfare.