The Election Commission of India said that if any party is found involving children in its election campaign, action will be taken under all the laws and acts related to child labor. In this regard, the District Election Officer, Returning Officer has been given the responsibility to take action.
However, the presence of a child with his/her parents or guardian around a political leader is not considered as an election campaign activity and will not be a violation of this guideline.
ECI issues guidelines on action to be taken if children are caught campaigning
Political leaders and candidates “should not use children for campaign activities in any manner, including holding a child in their arms, carrying a child in a vehicle, or in rallies,” according to the ECI’s guidelines for the “Prohibition of Child Participation in Election Related Activities.”
The Commission said that it is necessary for all political parties and candidates to strictly ensure compliance with the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 as amended by the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
Jyoti Sharma, a social activist from Upper Bazar, Ranchi, had written a letter to the Election Commission on January 30. In which he had appealed to the Election Commission not to use children in the campaign for voting. The Election Commission has issued guidelines on this today.
The Election Commission was asked by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to look into a complaint against Rahul Gandhi and the Congress for allegedly “misusing children as political tools” during the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in September 2022.