A signature campaign initiated by District Collector S. Prabakar on Monday strengthened the movement against child labour carried out under National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in the district.
Accompanied by Erode Revenue Divisional Officer P. Menaka, Erode Tahsildar Annapoorani and R. Vembu, Project Director, In-Charge, NCLP, Erode, the Collector administered pledge to senior officials and teachers of the 22 NCLP schools across the district, including nine in the hilly parts of Bargur, Anthiyur and Hassanur, with a total of 834 students on rolls, securing their commitment to take the movement forward. Teachers of the special schools would undertake field work to identify child labourers, impart them bridge education and vocational skills, and integrate them into mainstream education after a three-year duration. The children are given nutritious food at the special schools.
According Ms. Vembu, 2,482 children who had undergone education at NCLP schools have been mainstreamed into formal education system in Erode district, since the inception of the scheme in 2005. The campaign was relevant against the backdrop of indifferent attitude of a section of parents.
Teachers of the NCLP schools have reportedly come across students who are forced by their drunkard parents to discontinue studies and take up labour. There have also been instances of teachers of some of the schools putting up with abusive behaviour of students, who are not inclined towards studies.
The district administration has understandably risen up to the occasion by warning uncooperative parents that their ration cards would be withdrawn if they fail to ensure continuity of their children in the NCLP schools.
This year, 30 among them are expected to pursue higher education. Each student will be entitled to scholarship of Rs. 6,000 per year, besides other benefits meant for socio-economically poor students under government schemes, it is learnt.
Meanwhile, a four-day rally from Bargur to Talavadi on the hills, organised by Sudar, an NGO associated with NCLP schools, was flagged off at Tharaikarai by Anthiyur Tahsildar (Social Security Schemes) R. Gururaghavendran.
