The Hindu, Sept 5, 2007, New Delhi (PTI): Taking up the cause of child Laborers, President Pratibha Patil today lamented the lack of adequate laws to tackle the problem.

"I feel deeply for those unfortunate children who are working in fields, factories, shops, streets to earn their livelihood or to support their families," Patil said at a function to award school teachers for meritorious service.

"The country is determined to wipe out the curse of child Labor. Only laws are not adequate to solve the problem," she said.

Focusing on the need to analyze the reasons responsible for child Labor, she said, "one of the reasons could be that school education is not relevant to the needs of these children".

Patil asked teachers to do something to make the school curriculum more relevant for such children and to inculcate life skills along with school skills.

"It is also important to prepare school children to fight social evils like child marriage, gender inequality, addiction and other social stigmas," she said giving away the National Awards to a total of 366 teachers from across the country.

The awards carry a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a silver medal and a certificate of merit.