Date:16/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/16/stories/2008081658270200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

CRY strikes the gong for children’s education rights

Special Correspondent

An encore of recital takes the message across effectively

— Photo: M.Karunakaran

Moving portrayal: Children from Pudhiyadhor, Ramapuram, perform a street skit in an awareness programme conducted by CRY in Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: On Friday, a group of children from Vyasarpadi performed a ‘Thappattam’ dance at Dr.Nageswara Rao Park, Mylapore, as part of ‘Strike the Gong,’ an awareness programme conducted by Child Rights and You (CRY) on the issues facing children’s education rights.

The Slum Children Sports Talent and Education Development Society (SCSTEDS) has been working with these children in Vyasarpadi for the last few years now, and their training brought to good effect on Independence Day as a small group of onlookers asked for an encore of the performance.

Integral part

P.Krishnamoorthy, Tamil Nadu State Manager, development support, CRY, said that the issue was not just one of education. But education was an integral part of delivering children all their rights, he added.

“CRY works towards providing a holistic solution for children’s rights, especially for those from marginalised communities,” he said.

Education was hampered by accessibility, affordability, teaching in an alien tongue and many such issues.

A common school system (CSS) should be implemented and the government should take the lead in education, while allowing local bodies to develop the appropriate modes, he said.

The programme also included a street skit performed by children from Pudhiyadhor, a non-profit organisation from Ramapuram, highlighting the hurdles daunting children.

Domestic chores, the apathy of parents, gender discrimination, non-availability of teachers and a host of such issues were shown as coming in the way of a child’s education.

Open discussion

An open discussion was held at the end of the programme. Volunteers noted that no single organisation could possibly eradicate illiteracy and restore all the rights to children. The point was to highlight the issues involved to make the government take up the cause seriously, they said.

Similar awareness programmes would be conducted in different places, they said. The children were later presented with special gifts by the Nageswara Rao Park Walkers’ Association.