The Centre has sanctioned 19 primary schools for school drop-outs in Jalpaiguri district under the scheme of National Child Labour Project. “The proposed schools would benefit a large number of drop-outs in the district,” said Mr Sudipta Samanta, assistant labour commissioner, Jalpaiguri.
Numerous children throughout the country are forced to drop out of schools and take up labour under economic compulsion. Thousands of such unfortunate souls can be found working in the roadside eateries, garages and as domestic help throughout Jalpaiguri district. “Project aims at rehabilitating such children,” the ALC, said. According to him, the beneficiaries would get a stipend every month, a daily allowance of Rs 5 for tiffin and medical treatment in the school by specialists.
The beneficiaries would also get vocational training, which would stand them in good stead in future. The beneficiaries would have to be in the age group of 9 to 14 years. The Union labour ministry would sanction the funds required for appointing and paying teachers but the schools would be monitored by the state government. Welcoming the proposal, the secretary of the All Bengal Primary School Teachers’ Association Mr S Shikdar said: “There are about 2,012 primary schools in Jalpaiguri district but there is no policy to rehabilitate the dropouts. The proposal should be supported.”