Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Rescued child labourers re-enact their past

Staff Reporter

SALEM: When they performed `Muyarchi', a drama about a landlord harassing the children working under him, they were merely re-enacting their past as child labourers.

The children staged it at the 17th Annual Day of the Don Bosco Anbu Illam Social Service Society. Most of them had run away from their poverty-stricken homes, wasted their childhood in industrial units, and ended up living on the street, before being rescued by representatives of the Society. These children are sheltered at the Society's hostels and educated at various schools. "We cannot blame these children. We should educate the parents on this issue.

The Society is primarily concerned with making people aware of their rights and responsibilities, educating the illiterate and rejuvenating the marginalised sections," its Director, Fr. A. Rayan, said in his address at the function. The societyalso runs various units to rehabilitate street children, rag pickers and children deserted by families.

Outreach service

Child Line, a 24 hour-emergency outreach service for stranded children maintained by the Society in the district, received 52,227 calls during last year.

The Society has given shelter and education to 212 children, admitted 143 children in other social service organisations, settled problems of 137 children with their families and rescued 53 kids with the assistance from Child Line.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Corporation allowed to take over hotel
Rescued child labourers re-enact their past
Plea for a tank in Pachamalai
In Salem Today

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu