‘All Children Are Precious to Society; Society Exists Because of Children’: Shalet Pinto
Mangaluru: The inauguration of the 2026 Children’s Rights Month celebrations and the Children’s Parliament-2026 programme was held on Saturday under the joint auspices of the Children’s Rights Month Committee, Dakshina Kannada District; PADI, Mangaluru; the Federation of Education Resource Centres (R), Dakshina Kannada; Lions Club Mangaluru; Lions Club Katipalla-Krishnapura; the Indian Red Cross Society, Mangaluru; the Karnataka Child Rights Observatory; and the District Child Protection Unit, Dakshina Kannada.
Addressing the gathering after unveiling a poster on the prohibition of child marriage prepared by the JRC, Karnataka Eco-Tourism Development Corporation Chairperson Shalet Pinto said, “All children are precious to society. Society exists because of children.”
She emphasised that children must raise their voices whenever they face problems or are denied their rights. Representing and advocating for children’s rights is a collective responsibility, she said.
Expressing concern over children’s growing addiction to mobile gaming, Pinto said excessive gaming could adversely affect their future. She urged children to stay away from such habits and concentrate on building a bright future for themselves.
The Children’s Rights Month celebrations were formally inaugurated by children, who unveiled posters highlighting children’s rights and the prohibition of child marriage.
The programme was presided over by Vanitha Arun Bhandary, Convenor of the Children’s Rights Month Committee, Dakshina Kannada district.
The chief guests included Wilma, Assistant Labour Commissioner; Rashmi K.M., Protection Officer of the District Child Protection Unit; Dr Akshatha Adarsh, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee; Lion Hema Rao, President of Lions Club Mangaluru; M.J. Nagesh, President of the Indian Red Cross Society; Lion P. Dayakar Suvarna of Lions Club Katipalla-Krishnapura; Lion Deepak Permude, Lions Zone Chairperson; Shalet Pinto, Chairperson of the Karnataka Eco-Tourism Development Corporation; Kamala Gowda, President of the Federation of Education Resource Centres (R), Dakshina Kannada; and Renny D’Souza, Chief Executive Officer of PADI, Mangaluru.
Sumangala Shenoy welcomed the gathering. Riyaz, a member of the Mangaluru Education Resource Centre, compered the programme, while Surekha proposed the vote of thanks.
The Children’s Parliament programme was held in the afternoon, with the participation of Devadas K., Subject Supervisor from the Deputy Director’s Office of the Department of School Education; Kumar from the District Child Protection Unit; Ganesh from the Child Helpline; office-bearers of the Education Resource Centre; and PADI staff members.
As part of the programme, two children were selected to participate in an event scheduled to be held at Vidhana Soudha on November 20. They are Shravan from Sneha Sadan and Srividya from Prajna Counselling Centre.