Integrated Child Protection Services (ICPS), Social Welfare Department today organized webinar on “Act Now: End Child Labour” to mark observance of World Day against Child labour being celebrated across the globe.Speakers in the webinar expressed concern about the increase in number of Child laboureres in tough times of global pandemic and measures to eradicate this menace of child labour from the society.Secretary, Social Welfare, Sheetal Nanda, who presided over the event, spoke about the measures needed to end child labour in the society. She said that cases related to child labour should be dealt actively by the child protection staff by adopting a proactive approach. “The staff should have an active presence within their respective districts for children in need of care and protection,” she asserted.Nanda stressed upon generating awareness regarding role of child protection services and their contact details in public domain. She also assured her full support to this noble cause.Mission Director ICPS, Shabnam Shah Kamili, stressed upon the role of Child Protection Services in reaching out to children in need of care and protection. She threw light on the theme “Act now: End child labour” and elaborately explained the importance of total eradication of this biggest social evil from the society. She added that child labour is a social transgression and elimination of child labour is one of the focus areas of Child Protection Services, J&K.Speaking in the event Member, Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Nustrat Naqvi, provided detailed guidance to the functionaries of Child Protection Services on their role in eradicating the menace of Child Labour and fast track dealing of such cases ensuring relief and rehabilitation of children engulfed by this evil.Advocate and Child Protection Expert, Abha Singhal Joshi, stressed upon the legal aspects in dealing with children who are affected by Child Labour.The webinar was also attended by District Child Protection Officers, District Social Welfare Officers, Chairpersons of Child Welfare Committees, members of Child Welfare Committees, members of Juvenile Justice Board(s), staff of Directorate of ICPS, staff of State Resource Centre for Women, Staff of District Child Protection Units and Superintendents of CCIs of J&K.The session was concluded with an interactive session in which child protection functionaries showed active participation and highlighted various challenges faced by them in their day to day duties.