From John K Kaping
UKHRUL, August 25: Altogether 23 children of Ukhrul district have been brought back home safely from Kerela today by the Manipur state government.
The children mostly between the ages of 6 – 13 years included with 10 girls and 23 boys who stayed at Kerala for almost two years with the assurances that they will be provided education were brought back to their home town after missing their formal education for some years.
The Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Ukhrul has been the key initiator in rescuing the children so far by establishing the rights of the children in adhering to the directive of the Supreme Court that directs the states of Assam and Manipur to ensure that “The State of Manipur and Assam are directed to ensure that no child below the age of 12 years or those at primary school level are sent outside to pursue education to other states until further orders”.
The children were warmly welcomed home and received by the Ukhrul Deputy Commissioner, R Sudhan, Ukhrul SP, K Kabib in the presence of media persons, members of CWC led by its president, Mohanti, parents and gaurdians of the children, Ukhrul Social Welfare Department, Education Department at a simple restoration function held at the Ukhrul DC`s Office Chamber where after the “children home-coming ceremony” the children were safely handed over to the respective cares with an adequate assurances of proper care of living and education to the children from the Government side.
The DC Ukhrul assured free education in the form of residential bridge-course under SSA to be commenced by September 10 next.
Free accomodations, free text books and uniforms as like boarding facilities are assured to be arranged from the Zonal Education along with the free supply of the PDS rice of BPL, AAY and the assurances of awarding Dependent Children Scholarship and widows pensions to children’s without father from the Social welfare Department.
Some of the children while interacting to this Ukhrul Correspondent of the IFP said that they were taken down to Chennai with the assurances of giving proper education by some people with the consent of their family and relatives initiatives.
Asked how about their studies at Chennai, they said that they were not given any formal education (were not sent to school) but they were taught at the centre as tuitions.
They also said that they were allowed to go to the morning Gospel service and gardening in the evening.
When asked how was their living in terms of fooding and lodging, they replied that it was well and comfortable facilities supplied and nice care treatment.