Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 6: Vanitha Thoravi, member of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) at a press meet on Friday August 5 at the information department press conference hall near Brahmagiri, informed that there were only 217 school dropouts in Udupi district.

She was speaking on 'Shale Kade Nanna Nade' programme held in collaboration with Education Department, Women and Child Development Department and Non Governmental Organizations.

Speaking about the awareness campaign launched by Karnataka state, she said, "A survey was conducted on school dropouts and it was found that only 217 school dropouts cases were reported in Udupi district. These children in the city are mostly children whose parents have migrated from neighbouring districts namely Bijapur and Bagalkot."

"We took the charge of conducting a survey on them in six districts namely Udupi, Shimoga, Dakshina Kannada, Koppala, Bagalkote and Bijapur. The commission wants to bring out all dropout students into mainstream. This was the second survey conducted with the support of Anganwadi workers."

"The highest number of dropout students is reported from Bijapur (13,087 students). Out of them, 5,000 students come under the age group of 16-18 years. The numbers of dropouts are 5,409 in Bagalkote, 9,794 in Koppala and 9,000 in Shimoga."

"Approximately 2,500 school children were reported missing and there was no trace of 74 school children. Most of these children are from Bijapur, Bagalkote and Koppala."

"There are NGOs in the districts namely RUDSET, WDC, Valmiki Nigam, which are getting grants from the government. Their job is to provide skill training, self-employment training and so on."

Expressing her anguish, she said, "The officials of Labour and Education department should work harder in providing help to these children. Let this be a warning to all passive government officials. District authority has to work harder in providing service effectively."

She added, "The authorities should have patience in uniting migrate children. The private organizations should also play a crucial role in developing the deprived classes of society. Private educational institutions should come forward and enrol these dropouts and rehabilitate them."