The second phase of ‘Agasthyante Poompattakal,’ a programme for tribal children in settlements inside the Kottoor forests, got under way on Saturday.
Subcollector Divya S. Iyer inaugurated the programme, aimed at increasing enrolment of children in schools and preventing dropouts. The first phase involved conducting a summer vacation camp for the children in the Podiyam settlement.
Individual care
In the second phase, MSW students of the University of Kerala and those of the Loyola College of Social Sciences will visit the settlements inside the forests on weekends and address the children’s health, education, and such issues. Each student will be in charge of five children. Individual care plans will be drawn up for each of the children.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme State chief A.S. Ganesh Kumar, District Child Protection Officer K.K. Subair, and Tribal Extension Officer Shinu Sukumaran were present. Sony Jose, head, Department of Social Work, Loyola College; Sreekumar of Department of Social Work, Kerala University; and Arya Gopinath, social worker, District Child Protection Unit, were present.
