MALDA, Nov. 19: The setting up of a residential school for child labourers under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in Malda has hit a roadblock because of the ongoing financial crisis ~ inflation and price hike ~ in the country.
In spite of advertising for a non-government organisation (NGO), keen in taking up the project, in June this year, the labour department failed to select an NGO to set up the school for child labourers even after having financial assistance from the government. “We received five applications from different NGOs but ultimately all of them refused to take up the responsibility against the proposed government assistance of Rs 750 per child labourer per month,” said Mr PP Das, assistant labour commissioner, Malda.
“According to him, inflation and price hike are the reasons why the NGOs have been keeping away from the project. “According to them, the financial assistance offered by the government is inadequate,” Mr Das said. It may be noted that the ALC had also approached the secretary of the Malda Ramkrishna Mission Swami Divyananda so that the school could be set up but he failed to convince him due to similar reasons.
“The state government should rethink about the project and increase the amount sanctioned for setting up the school. The financial support of Rs 500 to Rs 750 per month is not enough for a child labour with food, education and other expenses to be taken care of,” Swami Divyananda, said. The ALC and other district officials today interacted with the director of NCLP in Kolkata on the matter.
Initially, it was decided to set up a residential school for child labourers with the help of an NGO and government's financial aid. It was decided that the government would provide Rs 500 for food and Rs 250 for breakfast and other necessary educational expenses per student, per month. But with the ongoing tug-o-war over the amount sanctioned by the government, the project is far from kicking off in Malda. SNS
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