Over 250 children from different parts of the State who were rescued from child labour, passed the Plus-Two examinations with the percentage touching 90.
According to officials of Child Labour Monitoring Cell of the Labour Department, 287 children appeared for the examinations and 256 cleared it. “The children were mainstreamed under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP). The pass percentage is 89 which is a significant number. We are happy that the children performed well,” said an official of the cell.
C. Banupriya from Salem district, who was rescued from a powerloom unit, topped the State by securing 1,128 marks out of 1,200. Among other toppers, A. Ramu, also from Salem and rescued from a coir unit, scored 1,009 marks. In Chennai, Shalia Begum scored 1,001, officials said, adding that she was rescued from domestic work.
Officials said out of 70 children who appeared for the examination in Salem, 62 passed and two of them were toppers. In Chennai and Kancheepuram districts, 10 and 13 children appeared respectively, all of whom passed. However, the marks secured by toppers the previous year were higher than this year.
Last year, V. Karthik from Dharmapuri scored 1,156. “That cannot be generalised or compared with current students. We are happy that they want to pursue higher education. We are doing our best to ensure that they have a safe and secure future,” said the official.
The NCLP project is being implemented from 1998 and is now functioning in 15 districts. While the project officers have been rescuing and mainstreaming children, activists feel that half the problem will be solved by strengthening Right to Education Act and by setting up school management committees. “Many such children are denied education as they do not possess the required documents or money. The authorities must rightly implement the Act to ensure that they do not end up on doing hard labour again,” said P. Joseph Victor Raj, National Convenor of Campaign Against Child Labour.
‘A total of 256 out of 287 children who appeared for the exam cleared it’
