BALANGIR: The district administration is all set to open seasonal hostels for children of migrant community in 2016-17 session. A preparatory meeting in this regard was held in the presence of the Collector and the officers of School and Mass Education department.
In 2015-16, the administration had opened 134 centres where 4,833 children were accommodated during the migration season. This year, the State Government has asked the district administration to accommodate around 4,000 children of migrant labourers in the seasonal hostels.
The centres will be opened in Bangomunda, Turekela, Muribahal, Belpara, Patnagarh and Khaprakhol blocks of the district.
As per the guidelines, the survey for identification of migrant families will be conducted and a proposal will be submitted to the Government for early opening of the hostels.
Sources said distress migration on a large scale occurs every year from Balangir and other KBK districts to brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh due to lack of work after kharif season. The number of migrant workers is estimated to be around two lakh and the number of migrant children is around 25,000.
During the meeting, Collector Ashish Thakre emphasised on safety and security of children.
District Programme Coordinator of Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan Dhananjay Mohapatra said seasonal hostels will be set up in migration-prone villages of the district and discussion with parents on the matter is going on. Care takers, village education coordinators and cooks will be recruited soon, he added.