Shillong, July 19: The election machinery has asked political parties not to employ and use children for election purpose.
East Khasi Hills district election officer (DEO) has issued notices to nine political parties on July 6.
According to the notice during the recently concluded Assembly polls, complaints have been received wherein political parties were alleged to have utilised the services of children during election activities relating to campaigning, rallies and sloganeering among others.
This was inspite of the directions prohibiting the use of children for election process and campaign as issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on January 20, 2017 and by the Election Commission of India on February 21, 2017.
“Whereas to prevent the future occurrences of such alleged activities involving the use of children in view of the upcoming general elections to the KHADC 2024 and general election to the Lok Sabha 2024, it is therefore necessary that the above mentioned directives be circulated to all political parties concerned. Therefore, in view of the above stated facts, all political parties are hereby instructed to strictly refrain from employing and using children for the purpose of election campaigning failing which strict action will be taken as per the provisions of the law,” the notice said.
The nine political parties are National People’s Party (NPP), Voice of the People Party (VPP), Indian National Congress (INC), Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP), People’s Democratic Front (PDF), United Democratic Party (UDP), All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM).
