700 child workers get education at brick-kilns

LB Nagar: A unique initiative jointly taken by Rachakonda Police Commissionerete, Rangareddy District administration, Government of Telangana, in collaboration with Aide et Action International and Brick Kiln owners Association of Telangana, to reduce vulnerability and exclusion of migrant children, presented positive results at a seminar on the occasion of World Day against human- trafficking here on Monday.

Rachakonda CP Mahesh Bhagavath, US Consulate General Katherine Hadda, Rangareddy District collector Raghunandan Rao, Yadadri District collector Anitha Ramachandran, Education department officials and owners of brick kilns took part in the seminar. The organisers selected ‘Education and Protection of Inter-State Migrant Children through worksite schools’ as a theme to the seminar.

According to it, the unique initiative establishes brick lines schools providing education to 700 children who worked in the brick kilns. After taking charge of Rachakonda Police Commissionerate, Mahesh Bhagavath toured villages like Bommalaramaram, Chikati Mamidi, Choutuppal. He inspected business of brick kilns. The CP noticed that majority of the workers in the units were migrated from Odisha. He came to know that children were also working in the units along with their parents thus denying education to children. The CP conducted raids on brick kilns and freed them from child labour.

But they came back to the kilns as their parents were working there. Mahesh seeded a thought of bringing the education at the door steps of the workers to educate their children. He made hectic discussions with District collectors and NGOs apart from Odisha Government. A school especially meant for children of Odisha workers started with cooperation and coordination of stake holders. He convinced the brick kiln owners and workers to join their wards in the school. Finally, the CP warned both the owners and workers of serious action if the children were brought back to the work place.

He also created awareness on child labour act. Finally the CP succeeded in sending their children to the school. Brick kiln owners came forward to construct class rooms. Odisha Government extended its support by sending study material like text books in Odia language. An NGO based at Odisha sent teachers to the school. As the school was meant for the children of workers who worked in brick kilns, it has been named as Brick Lines. Collectors of Rangareddy and Yadadri districts, Officials of various government departments are providing basic facilities to the students like uniforms, textbooks, slates and mid day meal.

At present 700 students are studying in Brick Lines schools without any interruption. As the Odisha workers stay here for only six months in a year here and they will go back to their native state in the remaining period. By considering this, the CP made an arrangement that make the children to study in Odisha government schools when they spent six months at their native place. They got recognition from the State government and could write annual exams there itself. The schools completed two years. 350 children got admitted in the first academic year and another 350 in the second.

Now, altogether 700 student are studying in the schools. The schools provide primary education from first class to fifth class. 10 teachers are taking classes. As the medium of teaching is in Odia, students were found regularly attending the classes. First Bricks Line School was started at Pedda Kondur village of Choutuppal Division. The next schools were established at Ravirala village of Ibrahimpatnam, Chikati Mamidi village of Bommalamamadi, Lakshmi Tanda and Khazipet villages.

CP Mahesh Bhagavath thanked everyone who extended their cooperation in establishing the schools. Brick Kilns Association President Rajender Reddy said that this concept become role model to other states. He hoped that more students will join in the school in next academic year. The CP felicitated the dignitaries.

BY Yanadi Reddy Mattipati