Campaign for child rights launched in Haryana

Panchkula (Haryana), March 8 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched a campaign on Sunday to spread awareness about child rights which will have vans touring nearly 300 villages across the state, screening animated films on the subject.

The campaign, 'Yes, children have rights', would involve the video vans touring villages in Hisar, Sirsa and Fatehabad districts among the total 21 districts in the state.

The campaign has been initiated by NGO Save the Children in collaboration with the women and child development department of Haryana.

Save the Children is a leading, independent child rights organisation that works in India and in over 120 countries around the world.

"Children are most vulnerable to incidence of abuse, exploitation and negligence and their voices are not heard easily in the community. Thus, the awareness campaign on child rights is of prime importance," Jatin Mondar, project director, Save the Children, Punjab and Haryana state programme office, said.

The campaign will lay emphasis on education, protection, equity and respect being the primary rights of children.

The campaign will be launched in 550 villages of neighbouring Punjab soon.

Save the Children along with its four partners -- Society for All Round Development, Model Rural Youth Development Organisation, Child Survival India and Volunteers for Social Justice -- is currently implementing a project 'Strengthening Child Rights in Cotton Growing Districts of Haryana and Punjab'.