DHENKANAL: Fund crunch has hit the functioning of 39 special schools under National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in the district. Reports said funds are not forthcoming for one and a half years plunging the schools into uncertainty.
According to official sources, the schools were opened under the Central project in July 2007. As many as 20 leading civil society organisations signed an agreement with the district administration to run the 39 schools. The schools provide education to child labourers up to Class V. Earlier, a sum of Rs 100 was sanctioned as stipend per student and it was deposited in the joint account of the child and his mother. But subsequently it was stopped.
In each school, two instructors, a clerk-cum-accountant and a peon-cum-cook were appointed to look after students and school activities. Central Government sanctioned contingency funds which includes salary of school staff. In addition, parent–teacher fora were formed for better functioning of the schools. But as the fund flow has stopped for one and a half years, the staff are disinclined to look after the schools. Sans stipend, child labourers have also stopped coming to the schools.
Civil society organisation functionaries alleged they are not a getting a single pie to run the schools. Recently NGO Dayananda Saraswati Service Mission surrendered six schools after running them for two years. The NGO functionaries said they took such a step as fund allotment has stopped. Other civil society organisations said schools run by them may face closure if the present situation continues.
NCLP project director and district labour officer Laxmidhar Rath admitted that the schools are not receiving funds. Rath said he has received complaint in this regard and apprised the State authorities of it.