The Department of Women and Child Development has proposed an open school for children found on the streets and those at construction sites in the city.
During an interaction programme on child labour at the Netravathi auditorium here on Friday, Child Protection Officer Usman said that this school would be on the open school concept where children will be given non-formal education. This school would be run by a non-governmental organisation out of the funds provided by the Child Protection Society.
Mr. Usman later told The Hindu that the State government had agreed to the proposal and had asked for a survey of children likely to be found in the city. “We have sent the names of organisations that will conduct the survey. We are awaiting clearance,” he said.
Mr. Usman’s response came in light of the Child Welfare Committee Chairman Nikesh Shetty and Sister Dulcine Crasta from Research and Development Centre In Child Rights expressing the need for a separate school for children rescued from the streets and construction sites.
“This school is needed for children accompanying their parents who come all the way to the city from far way places namely Bihar and West Bengal,” Sister Dulcine said. Mr. Shetty said an open school has already started in Hassan but it was yet to take shape in Dakshina Kannada. He said that the funds collected for the welfare of building and other construction workers can be used. Assistant Labour Commissioner D.G. Nagesh said that they had to close down a special residential school, for those rescued from child labour, in Kutthar two years ago due to the absence of children.
“We have very few cases of child labour here in the district,” he said. Earlier in the day, Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat P.I. Sreevidya flagged off the rally taken out to generate awareness about child labour prohibition. First Additional District and Sessions Judge C.M. Joshi inaugurated the programme on World Day against Child Labour.
‘Everyone’s responsibility’
Kumara, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Udupi, said on Friday that social responsibility and a well-informed society were the keys to eradication of child labour.
He was speaking after inaugurating the World Day against Child Labour organised by the district administration as well as other organisations here.
Mr. Kumara said that the social system should help in all-round development of children. Poverty, illiteracy, and other reasons were responsible for child labour. The district administration and Department of Labour traced child labourers and brought them in the mainstream of the society by making the required arrangements including providing for their education. The atmosphere in the schools should be conducive for children to learn. If the atmosphere in schools was stifling, the children would not be attracted to education and might drop out, he said.
