Date:14/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/14/stories/2008061450690700.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Monsanto Fund learning centre launched

Special Correspondent

NANDYAL: Monsanto Fund on Friday launched the learning centre for rehabilitating child workers from cottonseed production fields in Kurnool and Mahabubnagar districts.

Launching the centre at Nandyal, Deborah Patterson, president of Monsanto Fund, said the programme was aimed at allowing the children to join the mainstream education after formal training at the centre.

The centre would be run with the active support of Voluntary Organisation of Rural Development Society (VORDS), Australian Foundation for People of Asia and Pacific and other partners.

In the first year, 70 children were enrolled at the centre as against the capacity of 120.

Besides rehabilitating the children, the fund also aimed at eliminating the practice of child labour from the cotton fields through a unique programme educating farmers.

The seed producers were offered special incentives for not engaging child workers.

Rani Kumudini, State Project Manager of ILO, S.P.Y. Reddy, MP, and others attended the programme.