Hari and Leela, a migrant couple from Rajasthan, never felt any need to send their children to school. They have been selling sand sculptures near Oachira for a long time while the children were engaged in child labour in and around Valiyakulangara.
Sharanabalyam
But now the siblings will have a normal childhood and schooling, thanks to the Sharanabalyam project launched by the Department of Women and Child Development. The children aged 15, 10, 9, 8, 6, 4 and 2 were rescued by the District Child Protection Unit along with two others who were found begging in Chadayamangalam.
It was the neighbours who alerted the authorities about the children and the family was summoned by the child welfare committee. The five girls were working in the disguise of boys at various places and all were living in an unsafe environment. The unit officials spoke to the parents and convinced them about the need for proper living conditions and education.
Counsellors’ guidance
The eldest of the children, a 15-year-old girl, will be soon admitted to Oachira Government High School.
All others, who have never stepped into a school, will start their formal education at Valiyakulangara Government Lower Primary School. Counsellors of the Our Responsibility to Children programme will help the children with their studies.
The two children rescued from Chadayamangalam have been sent to the government’s Children’s Home in the district.
