CM asks Satyarthi to set up 'Baal Panchayat Samiti' in J'khand

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das Sunday called upon Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi to set up 'Baal Panchayat Samiti' across the state with the state government's support.

Das said this while speaking at a function organised by Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation to initiate a programme to eliminate child labour from mica mining areas of Koderma, an official release said.

"Kailash Satyarthi ji, set up 'Baal Panchayat Samiti' (Children's Panchayati Committees) in the state. The state government is with you. It is our endeavour to stop child labour," Das said in the presence of Satyarthi.

Expressing concern over placement agencies taking children on the pretext of giving jobs outside state, the chief minister directed the labour department to set up cells to register details of such placement agencies who take children outside the state.

Stating that his goal is to eliminate child labour, Das said that he had led raids in some places and freed children when he was the labour minister.

The major reason for child labour is poverty, Das said, adding that child labour would end only by removing poverty.

"We want a state where no child remains illiterate. Every child gets nutritious food," Das said.

He said child labour and human trafficking would end only when the society will become sensitive.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis slogan - 'Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao', Das said the state government has added another slogan - 'Pahele Padhai, Phir Bidayi' (first education and then marriage).