Over 500 rehabilitated child workers in Tiruvallur would probably return to their workplace from this week as the government has shut down the 16 schools run under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in the district.
Thanks to the red-tapism among different government departments, which caused severe delay in providing the monthly stipend of Rs 150 to child workers, children studying in these schools are now pushed to give up their studies and take up work for survival, said child rights activists.
The schools were closed as the stipend had not been paid for the last three years.
Requesting anonymity, a senior district administration official said, “We closed the schools only to mainstream the children.
As per the RTE, all children should be sent to regular schools. Some students have been paid the stipend and the rest would receive them shortly.”
Child rights activist Agni Subramanian said, “Though the children are now sent to regular schools, the chances of their continuing there are slim.” The staff also had not received salaries for the last two years, he said.