A group of students, once child labourers and denied their right to education, emerged successful on Friday in the Class X examinations. A press release from the Labour Commissionerate said R. Uma Maheswari, who was rescued from a silver anklet producing unit in Salem, scored a total of 485.
Students like her were rescued and sent to a special school as part of the Central government-funded National Child Labour Project, and then mainstreamed to regular schools after they made up for all the learning lost in the years they were employed.
Other students Ramya Lakshmi scored a total of 478, S. Tamizh Selvi scored 463. Roobalakshmi and Mareeswaran of Sivakasi scored 475 and 471 respectively. Both were employed in a match factory. B. Jothi scored 474, and Gunawathi scored 461. Both were rescued from an incense sticks unit in Krishnagiri. Nandagopal from Salem, who was engaged in rope making work, scored 471.
Over 700 students from Tuticorin, Coimbatore, Krishnagiri, Vellore, Dharmapuri, Erode, Salem and Virudhunagar cleared their class X examinations this year, the release added.
Minister for Labour and Employment S.T. Chellapandian has said that persons interested in supporting the children to pursue their higher studies could call 044-24326205 or 24349442, or write to tnchildlabour@yahoo.com.
