NGOs should come forward to Rehabilitate School Dropouts – Vanitha Thorvi
Udupi: NGOs should come forward and take the responsibility of rehabilitating children, who are deprived of education said Vanitha Thorvi member of Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
She was speaking at a press meet held at the Information department conference hall on August 5. There are nearly 217 drop outs in Udupi district. Out of the 217, almost all are from the migratory populace. The second childern need counseling, education and guidance.
Nearly 37,507 children have dropped out of schools in the five districts of Bijapur, Bagalkot, Shivamogga, Koppal and Udupi. 13,087 children in Bijapur, 5,409 children in Bagalkot, 9,794 children in Koppal, 9,000 in Shivamogga and 217 children in Udupi do not go to school. She further said that the initiative taken by the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and to ensure all dropouts get education under the programme ‘Shale Kade Nanna Nade’ has brought hopes. She asserted that children all over the State would be provided education step by step. She said that the majority of students do not have the privilege of getting education owing to the social evils like child labor, child marriages and migration.
Stating that the Commission aims at introducing skill based programmes to make children in the age group of 16 to 18 self-reliant, Thorvi said that there are nearly 2,500 children untraced in Bagalkot, Bijapur and Koppal. Around 74 children are missing from the slums in these three districts. This exemplifies rampant human trafficking in the area.
She expressed her anguish over the poor support from the department in the Commission’s attempt to rehabilitate dropouts. She said that child beggars can be stopped from begging if they are tracked constantly and rehabilitated.
Gracy Gonsalves deputy director women and child welfare department was also present.
