The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Efforts under way to make Madurai child labour-free

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 03, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Efforts under way to make Madurai child labour-free

By J.V. Siva Prasanna Kumar

MADURAI, APRIL 2. Efforts being taken to eradicate child labour system in Madurai district is gaining momentum with the administration deciding to encourage parents of rescued children to take up income generating activities.

To ensure that parents did not send their children back to work and help them stand on their own legs by eking out a living, the administration has provided a financial assistance of Rs.10,000 each to ten parents with the help of funds provided through the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravida Housing and Development Corporation (TAHDCO) to purchase milch cows.

An action plan for Eradication of Child Labour system evolved by the administration has helped in weeding out the system in seven out of 13 blocks, and the district could be child labour-free by June. The process of enrolling all children of school going age in schools as part of the Education-for-All programme is under way.

The Inspector of Labour, V. Ayyannar, told The Hindu here on Saturday that four out of seven taluks in the district — Melur (Melur and Kottampatti blocks), Madurai North (Madurai East and Madurai West), Madurai South (Tirupparankundram block) and Vadipatti (Vadipatti and Alanganallur blocks) spread across 175 panchayats were declared child labour-free. Three more taluks, Usilampatti, Tirumangalam and Peraiyur, containing six blocks with the remaining 256 village panchayats (out of a total of 431) would be declared child labour-free soon. Official sources said 108 of 197 identified child labourers were put in residential schools and would be shifted to regular schools soon to continue studies under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme. Only two children were found working in hazardous industries and both were rescued.Efforts were on to reorient their parents and all those who are involved in perpetrating child labour system to provide a congenial environment to children of school-going age to attend schools.

The administration has left no stone unturned, he said and added even the gram sabhas were used to find out child labourers in villages and prompt action was taken to curb the system. The panchayat heads were asked to ensure that the percentage of school dropouts was brought down by motivating parents, and children of school going age asked to attend classes.

The Collector, D. Raajendiran, said financial assistance being provided to parents of children would enable them to meet educational expenses of their wards. It would be ensured that the district would be free from child labour and the system eradicated at grass root level much ahead of the State's agenda of freeing the children engaged in hazardous and non-hazardous professions by December 31, 2005 and 2007 respectively.

Meanwhile, the self-help group concept is being successfully utilised to break the shackles of child labour system. Six women groups that are formed with parents of rescued child workers are provided financial assistance to start income generating activities. The SHG movement would help improve the income of poor parents and facilitate continuance of education for the rescued children.

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