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Tamil Nadu
Netherlands may fund anti-child labour activities in India: envoy
| Karunalaya’s book on tsunami survivors released |
BOOK RELEASE: Bob Hiensch, Dutch ambassador to India launching the book ‘Struggle of the Survivors’ and handing over the first copy to S. John Bosco, president, Karunalaya (right), in Chennai on Friday. Henk Krabben, member, Rotary Club of Achterhoek Oost, The Netherlands (second from left) and N. Paul Sunder Singh, director, Karunalaya (extreme left), are in the picture.
CHENNAI: Dutch Ambassador to India Bob Hiensch on Friday said the Kingdom of Netherlands would look into the possibilities of supporting a welfare organisation fighting against child labour in India.
For many years India was the largest recipient of Dutch funds in the area of development, however that changed in 2005, when the focus shifted to economic and science and technological co-operation between the two countries, Mr. Hiensch said.
Though the government had since diverted its attention towards strengthening economic partnerships with India, it remained committed to certain development issues, including elimination of child labour and empowerment of women. He went on to say that his government would consider the possibilities of funding the anti-child labour activities in India, through Karunalaya, a social service organisation working in north Chennai. He was speaking after releasing the book “The Struggle of the Survivors: experience of the journey with the survivors of Tsunami in Chennai” published by Karunalaya, at a function in Tondiarpet on Friday. He handed over the first copy to S.John Bosco, president, Karunalaya. The book chronicles the arduous path of survival for those who were affected by the tsunami and has been funded by Cordaid, a funding agency from the Netherlands.
Mr.Hiensch said the book told a “fascinating story” that noted the hard work and hope that kept the survivors going. The Dutch public had also come forward to support in the tsunami rehabilitation efforts in India, he added.
C.V.Sankar, Officer on Special Duty (Relief and Rehabilitation), Tamil Nadu, said a number of non-governmental organisations were involved in the initial relief phase, but very few had stayed on during the rehabilitation phase too. He said Karunalaya’s gesture in running buses to ferry schoolchildren from their temporary shelters in north Chennai was appreciable.
The second floor of the Karunalaya office building was also inaugurated on the occasion. Henk Krabben, member, Rotary Club of Achterhoek Oost, The Netherlands, one of the funding organisations commended the work being done by the organisation. N.Gerard, chairman, Don Bosco Wisdom Town, Red Hills, and N.Paul Sunder Singh, director, Karunalaya, also spoke.
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