The Members of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) inspected the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) tenement in Perumbakkam to check for violation of child rights in the locality.
Recognising that the relocation has denied access to schools for the area’s children, R.G. Anand, member, NCPCR, told The Hindu : “I will be writing to the Kendriya Vidyalaya to start one of their schools in the locality, so that these children are not denied their right to education.”
The Commission had received a complaint from Vanessa Peter of the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC), stating that the number of schools was insufficient in the colony which housed nearly 14,000 families. As on date, there is one primary school functioning out of a residential tenement, and a higher secondary school.
Causes for concern
Many children travel long distances to their old schools. The presence of anti-social elements and the increasing crime rate have also been causes for concern and most of the families do not want to be evicted in the middle of the academic year.
During the visit, the children and their parents told Mr. Anand that they lacked toilets in these schools. They also expressed their fear to venture out in the evening due to insufficient lighting.
“To bring in all facilities it will take some time and the State has been doing it. However, steps will be taken to implement immediate necessities at the earliest,” he said. The member will submit a report on the same to Maneka Gandhi, Minister for Women and Child Development.
State body inspection
Meanwhile, members of the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TNCPCR) also inspected the tenements and spoke to children.
“There are no toilets in the schools and they are forced to go home for the same,” said M.P. Nirmala, Chairperson of TNCPCR.
During the interaction, they were told that the teachers were irregular to school. “The children said that they have not been provided with school uniforms, but teachers routinely punished them for not wearing it. Besides, they complained that the food given to them was of poor quality,” Ms. Nirmala added.
