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Discrimination main reason for Dalit kids dropping out: study -R Ilangovan
-The Hindu

Panel for declaring western districts as ‘child right violation zone’

A public hearing on child rights violations in western districts here has identified caste-based discrimination in classrooms as a major reason for rise in the number of school dropouts in six western districts of the State, especially Salem.

Dropout among girls, it is found out, has led to the high rate of child marriages. A shocking 13 per cent of children, majority of them Dalits, have become “victims of classroom discrimination”, thus forcing them to drop out at the elementary or middle school levels.

A study carried out in 30 villages in Salem, Erode, Tirupur, Krishnagiri, Namakkal and Dharmapuri claims there was 53 per cent of children dropouts at the primary level and 39 per cent at the high school level. Eighty-four per cent of the dropouts become child labourers, majority of them being Dalit children.

The disturbing statistics were placed before a panel of jurists at a public hearing, organised by Salem People’s Trust and Samakalvi Iyakkam and supported by Child Rights and You (CRY), here on Monday. Girls who drop out end up as labourers in mills, brick kilns, fields, poultry etc. Seven percent of girls who dropout at 10{+t}{+h}and 11{+t}{+h}standards are married off immediately.

The panellists urged the State to declare the entire western zone as a ‘Critical Child Right Violation Zone’ so that a concerted and coordinated effort by all could be initiated to address the myriad issues.

“We need to galvanise the Education Department to ensure committed implementation of the Right To Education (RTE) Act that would prevent even a single child from dropping out,” said Henry Tiphagne, Tamil Nadu State representative of National Commission for Protection for Child Rights, who shared the podium with G Kalavathi, Sub Judge cum Secretary, Salem District Legal Authority Services, P. Krishnamoorthy (CRY) and A Xavier, Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee.

A few dropouts, who deposed before the jurists, alleged that they faced caste-based discrimination in classrooms. S. Bhavani of Vellalakundam in Ayothiapattinam block in Salem, an Arunthathiyar girl, and a 7{+t}{+h}class dropout, said she had to leave school since teachers and classmates teased her on caste lines. “Verbal abuse with caste connotations is very common for us in schools in Salem,” she said. M. Aravndhan of Kuppanoor and M. Dhavamani of Kullampatti, also of Salem, were among a few who shared similar experiences.

6thstandard dropout Nandini of Vallipuram in Namakkal district was working in a mill under Sumangali scheme. Non-availability of middle and high schools in the neighbourhood, poverty, family debt, lack of transport and bus passes and migration were the other significant factors that contributed to a sharp increase in dropouts.

The panel demanded the district administration to check caste-based discrimination in schools. The officials must admit dropouts in regular schools and not in SMILE schools. They asked the Chief Educational Officer R Eswaran to expedite the construction of school buildings for Government High School at Karipatti in Salem district and the upgrade elementary school to middle level at Eripudur. They wanted the State to appoint an independent body to monitor child rights violations. M. Jayam, Director, Salem People Trust, presided. Nearly 500 people including officials, social activists, parents and children took part in the day-long child right initiative.