Strap: Back-to-School campaign at Selsella
Shillong, Oct 6: District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, DLSA, West Garo Hills Tura AM Ripnar has asked the government to ensure compulsory admission, attendance and completion of elementary education free of cost in addition to providing all round development of the child based on the capacity, talent of the child concerned by initiating child friendly environment and child centered learning.
In his address during the ‘Back-To-School’ campaign held at Government Upper Primary and RMSA School, Selsella C & RD Block on Saturday, Ripnar said the 86th Amendment Act 2002 inserted in Article 21 (a) to the Constitution of India (To provide free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years) as a fundamental right.
Mentioning that all children between 6 to 14 years should complete elementary education in a neighborhood school, he said the RTE Act 2009 states that every child has the right to attend full time elementary and quality education in a formal school.
He informed that the MSLSA had proposed to revisit the campaign titled the “Opening Doors for Education to Children” campaign for school dropouts through the NALSA child-friendly legal services to children and the Protection scheme 2015 and Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education 2009 to bring back all school dropouts.
He further said that the campaign would enable access to education and learning to all children of the state deprived of their rights and focused to include all sections of society irrespective of gender, caste, disabilities or abilities. Urging all the children to continue their education in future, he also seeks the cooperation of all stakeholders, parents and teachers to work together and ensure that no child should be a school dropout.
Sub-Divisional Officer (C), Dadenggre Civil Sub-Division, Dadenggre Sumeet Kumar Singh highlighted that financial problems, teenage pregnancy, etc are few reasons for school dropout in the region. He then encouraged everyone to come back to school as learning is necessary for every child to make a successful career.
Meanwhile, District Social Welfare Officer, Tura Madonna T Sangma informed the gathering about various schemes available in the department including ECD or pre-school learning for children upto six years at the Anganwadi centres, financial aids for pregnant mothers, grant-in-aid for Persons with Disabilities and those who are studying can also apply for Book grant, Conveyance allowance and uniform grant.
Moreover, those persons with disabilities, who have finished their studies and are not yet employed also can apply for unemployment grants from the department, informed the officer.
As part of the event different departments of the district such as Social Welfare, Agriculture, Horticulture, Fishery, PHE, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department, Labour, Education, etc participated and displayed their respective schemes and activities of the department as well as to provide service during the campaign to the beneficiaries by providing vital information and support to the attendees and also offering spot registration and assistance for eligible schemes in the respective departments.
In addition to these, the Department of Social Welfare, West Garo Hills, Tura have identified specially abled persons/children during the campaign by issuing disability certificates (UDID Card) to the identified persons and providing aids and equipment/appliances to these persons.
Moreover, the department had also organized games and other activities for girl children as part of the celebration of 10 days campaign for “International Day for Girl Child” during the function.
The chief guest and other dignitaries distributed aids and appliances to the beneficiaries during the function and also distributed certificates and trophies to winners of drawing, painting and essay competitions held earlier.
Moreover, the Self Help Groups (SHGs) of the Selsella C & RD Block, Selsella participated in the campaign and also exhibited locally-made products.
