Identify children working in garages and bring them back to school, says Mandya Deputy Commissioner

Mandya Deputy Commissioner Kumar chairing a meeting to review programmes implemented by various departments under the Prime Minister’s new 15-point programme for welfare of minorities, in Mandya on Tuesday.

Mandya Deputy Commissioner Kumar has instructed officials to identify children from the minority community working in garages and re-enroll them in schools.

Speaking at a meeting to review programmes implemented by various departments under the Prime Minister’s new 15-point programme for welfare of minorities in Mandya on Tuesday, Mr. Kumar emphasised on the need to keep a special vigil to ensure that the education of children from the minority community is not disrupted.

He said the officials should identify children, who drop out of school midway due to economic and social reasons to work in garages and other places, and bring them back to school.

He stated that children who are continuously absent from school must be identified, and the reasons for their absenteeism should be traced.

Special training and remedial teaching measures should be formulated to improve the learning abilities of academically backward children. Along with the children, parents must also be counselled and convinced about the importance of education and the future opportunities provided by higher studies.

“Specifically, if children under the age of 18 are found working in garages, the departments concerned must work in co-ordination to bring them back into the educational mainstream”, he said.

Various loan facilities must reach eligible beneficiaries to ensure the economic self-reliance of the minority community, he said.

The Lead Bank officials should take action to provide necessary credit facilities for housing loans, self-employment, and other economic activities. Along with sanctioning loans to eligible beneficiaries under the PM SVANidhi scheme, skill training should be provided based on their interests and aptitude to encourage them to start their own ventures, he noted.

The Health Department must make necessary preparations to administer the HPV vaccine to girls under the age of 14 from the minority community.

Essential infrastructure, including quality drinking water, cleanliness, and toilets, must be provided in hostels for minority students.

Zilla Panchayat Planning Cell Officer Dhanush, District Officer of the Minority Welfare Department Madhushree, District Family Welfare Officer G.S. Bettaswamy, Joint Director of the Agriculture Department Jayaswamy G.S., and officials from various other departments were present at the meeting.