Sandipani Awasam a result of the perpetual efforts by Seva Bharathi since 2002 in the campaign against Child labour. The effort involved building a network across 60 NGOs that organised bridge course centers for child labourers. The little hands that have toiled have now been performing on par in education and sports with other children. Thanks to APUS a teachers association & Seva Bharathi volunteers today there is a mechanism to pick the talented needy.
Its a known fact and official figures show that 37% of children rescued & put in rehabilitation homes end up at square one. The endeavor is to educate and give a chance to the under-dogs to prove their mettle. A total of 80 children all selected from the Child labour rehabilitation centers, from around Mahaboobnagar district are the beneficiaries. The children are genuinely poor and needy as also are truly deserving. Mahaboobnagar incidentally happens to be the one with highest child labour figures.
As a continuing effort of the Child labour rehabilitation programmes, Seva Bharathi has decided to set up a permanent hostel for the genuinely, talented and economically weak students of Mahaboobnagar dist. Based on the results of the talent search exam, fit students are selected and are awarded with scholarships to pursue their studies. The talent search exam includes a combination of psychomatic, mathematic and general aptitude developed in association with the Hyderabad Psychologists Association. Not just education but the children would also recieve technical & skill training at Sandipani Awasam.
The campaign for eradication of child labour paired with alternative education and innovative methods has made the children who earlier were child labourers and now stay with Seva Bharathi to get back to school. The kids impressed upon the authorities to the extent that they had to invite them to the Republic day parade in state capital.
Now after one year training in their rehabilitation homes, Seva Bharathi has picked them up on their merit and for the past one year they are pursuing their studies at Sandipani Awasam. And luckily it's a group on good-natured, partiotic NRI's that strengthened Seva Bharathi's hands by suporting financially for their studies, The Palamoor NRI Forum.
Seva Bharathi runs 5 Bridge course centers, which have gained a benchmark standard in child labour rehabilitation. The efffort has benefited some 6,000 children and contributed to a sustained campaign and awareness in the district.
Sandipani Awasam would house 100 poor but talented students who otherwise would end up as bonded / child labourers for the rest of their lives in future. Apart from the activities for the benefit of Children the home would also act a a nerve center for future Community development programmes. Inspired by this effort another Home for such deprived children is being set up at Ramayampet, Medak District.
Children have been selected from Seva Bharathi’s Rehabilitation homes for the bravery awards by the District administration headed by the District Collector. The children have performed extraordinary tasks of bravery. This year the Govt has been considerate with the cause of Child labour highlighting the cause and highlighting the children who have taken a turning point in their life after being rehabilitated.
Madhava Awasam feels proud of its children as two of them are from Madhava Awasam. |
