News Tamil Nadu

Children Made To Do Manual Labour For Sivagangai Event Welcoming DMK Scion Udhayanidhi Stalin  

September 10, 2024
The Commune

Nearly 60 hostel students were reportedly compelled to work barefoot in the midday sun as unpaid manual labourers to clean and prepare the Sivagangai District Sports Ground for welcoming DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin.

DMK scion and Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will officially open the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Cup at the Sivagangai district sports ground on 10 September 2024. Preparations for the event are underway, including cleaning and marking up the ground.

As part of the preparations, around 60 students residing in the district sports hostel have reportedly been required to take mandatory leave to assist with tasks such as cleaning the playground and setting up poles. This move has stirred controversy and caught the attention of local social activists.

A video showing these students working under the hot midday sun, carrying heavy iron poles in groups of four to five and some barefoot has gone viral on social media.

The footage has sparked strong criticism from social activists, who contend that employing children to set up poles and maintain tracks for a government event is deeply concerning and unacceptable. They have demanded strict actions against those responsible, stressing that such practices amount to child labour and should be condemned and addressed under the law.

On 10 September, Youth Welfare and Sports Minister Udayanidhi Stalin will be engaged in several activities across Sivagangai district. According to a press release from Cooperative Minister K. R. Periyakaruppan

  • At 10:00 a.m., Minister Udayanidhi Stalin will inaugurate the Chief Minister’s Cup at the Sivagangai District Sports Ground.
  • At 10:30 a.m., he will review government projects at the district collector’s office.
  • At 1:00 p.m., he will inspect the Vadaku Velli Ambalam memorial in Nagarapatti and the Gandhi-Jiva Memorial Hall in Siravayal.
  • At 4:30 p.m., he will oversee the distribution of sports equipment and welfare assistance at Alagappa University, Karaikudi.

Minister Udayanidhi Stalin is expected to arrive from Madurai at 9:00 a.m. and will be welcomed by the Sivagangai District DMK at Poovanthi.

BJP Tamil Nadu State Secretary Dr. SG Suryah slammed the DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi for outraging over non-issues while turning a bling eye to such instances.

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