The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Uniforms distributed to rehabilitated child labourers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Uniforms distributed to rehabilitated child labourers

Staff Reporter

They were mainstreamed into corporation schools this year

— Photo: R.Shivaji Rao

New lease of life: Mayor M. Subramanian distributes uniforms and notebooks to students in Chennai on Monday. Additional Commissioner of Labour Department K. Sellamuthu (left) and Chennai Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni are in the picture.

CHENNAI: A total of 685 child labourers who were mainstreamed into corporation schools this year were given uniforms, notebooks and stationery items here on Monday.

Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian, who distributed the materials at the Corporation Middle School on Bells Road in Triplicane, said a helpline (044 - 25383693) was established for those wanting to provide information about child labourers.

About 926 children were admitted to special schools across 10 corporation zones this year.Mr. Subramanian commended the efforts of NGOs such as the Bhoomika Trust, Asha Trust, and the Lions Club of Temple Bay, which joined hands with the Chennai Corporation to eliminate child labour.

Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni highlighted the joint venture of the Labour Department and the civic body to conduct raids to rescue child labourers and educate them.

Additional Commissioner of the Labour Department K. Sellamuthu said that about 16,000 rescued children were now studying in 469 special schools across the State, as part of the NCLP. Further, 4,346 children have been mainstreamed into regular schools in five districts under the Indus project. Speakers also underscored the need for the public to make use of the child helpline at 1098 to inform the agencies concerned about child labourers.

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