All the 22 rescued child labourers, who sat for the SSLC public examination from the district, have cleared it. The children were rescued by officials of Child Labour Elimination and Effective Rehabilitation Society (Society) from various places across the district as they were found employed.
The children were employed for cattle grazing, household work, fruit selling, artificial gem cutting, tea, and mechanic shops. Topping the group with 438 marks was S. Sathish Kumar, who was previously employed in a tea shop. He was rescued by the officials in 2008. He had to work to support his family and he could not afford schooling.
After being enrolled in the child labour special school at Ramachandra Nagar initially, he was admitted to the Kalaimagal High School at Edamalaipattipudur in the city.
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“I had to go to the job after my family moved from Puducherry to Tiruchi. I aspire to become a doctor and may parents have promised me to somehow support me,” he said.
With a tally of 436, V. Priyadarshini, a former house maid, stood second among the group. She was rescued in 2009 and admitted to the Government High School at Airport. Another girl, N. Gomathi, a student of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Manapparai, stood third with 424 marks. She was previously employed as a shepherd and was rescued in 2008.