The Hindu : New Delhi News : Special schools for rag-pickers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 28, 2007
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi - New Delhi

Special schools for rag-pickers

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

NEW DELHI: Seeking to optimise the use of several of its schools that have seen large-scale migration of children, the Delhi Government would soon start five schools for rag-pickers where along with primary education they would be trained in vocational studies.

According to Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, four sites for the schools have been identified. Three of them are in the Walled City of Delhi and one at Tehkhand in South Delhi.

“A lot many people have shifted out of the Walled City in the recent past. As a result, the number of children in our schools had declined. We have now merged two or three schools in different parts and would now be utilising the vacant schools for educating the rag-pickers, many of whom do not have anyone to look after them,” the Minister said.

These children would also be given mid-day meals. The move is expected to help in the general health of these children. “The five primary schools would cater to about 1,500 children. They will impart primary education to the children and train them in various skills so that they may be able to pick up proper jobs at a later stage,” Mr. Lovely said.

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

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section