Udupi-Chikmagaluru MP Kota Shrinivas Poojary was speaking at the district-level workshop organised at the Dr V.S. Acharya Auditorium, Rajatadri on Saturday. The event was organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat, District Legal Services Authority, Women and Child Development Department, and the Labour Department to mark 10 years of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative. The workshop aimed to raise awareness about laws benefiting women and girls, as well as the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976, for officials at district and taluk levels. Deputy Commissioner Vidya Kumari K administered an oath against bonded labour. She stressed the need to nurture girls on an equal footing with boys, rather than viewing them as burden. Employing children in hazardous industries like firecracker manufacturing and stone quarrying is an offence, DC said. The scheme was introduced a decade ago to eliminate female foeticide, provide quality education and other essential facilities to girls, and ensure they lead dignified lives while maintaining gender balance in society.
