To help children pursue their studies without being affected by migration of parents in search of work and better wages, an innovative welfare programme has been launched for them in Srikakulam district.
District Collector N. Srikant took the initiative and launched two seasonal hostels under the Rajiv Vidya Mission (Sarva Siksha Abhiyan). The hostels have been conceived to help children continue their studies without going away with their parents to other places. It's generally the practice for parents to take children with them when there is nobody to take care of them disrupting studies.
To tide over the problem, Mr.Srikant got two seasonal hostels started at Devaravalasa in G.Sigadam mandal and Ranasthlam. The villages have been decided after a survey on migration.
Mr. Srikant said the hostels were opened on an experimental basis and depending upon their success more would be started in the others parts of the district. He visited the hostel at Devaravalasa on Thursday and interacted with the children.
At Devaravalasa, about 150 families migrated. While 72 children have been admitted to the hostel there, at Ranasthalam the number is 42, according to RVM Project Officer S. Tirumala Chaitanya. The hostels, run by NGOs, function from January to June, the season when migration is more. Besides providing food, special vidya volunteers are appointed to take care of their studies.
The hostel at Devaravalasa is being run by an NGO, ARTS. Students from Velagada, Jadapeta, Mangampeta, Gorisipudipeta, Gangannadorapalem and other villages are studying in the hostel.
