In Mahabubanagar, there are many children of migrant workers who are missing out on healthcare, education, and their childhood while their parents work at brick kilns, hotels, and construction sites. Unfortunately, the district administration is not helping these vulnerable children, and many of them are forced into child labor. An NGO conducted a survey of the children and found that they need help. However, officials are not paying attention to their situation.
The officials in charge of education are especially negligent. Even funds that are set aside to help the district’s schools are not being used. The Nehru Yuvajana NGO runs bridge schools for the children of migrant workers. They claim that officials are telling school staff not to enter the details of these students into the government’s Prabhandportal to avoid hassle. However, a headmaster from Mahabubnagar district says that this is not true. He says that they have already uploaded details of around 210 out-of-school children onto the portal.
NGOs themselves have identified around 480 children who need help from the government for sustenance, health, and education. However, district officials are not taking action based on the NGOs’ findings. This has caused the central funds allocated to this area to lapse, which is putting these children at risk. The Government of India provides facilities under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan scheme for migrant and out-of-school children (OoSC) for education. They have asked the Telangana government to conduct surveys and submit lists of needy children, but district officials have failed to collaborate with NGOs and implement seasonal hostels in districts.
In conclusion, the neglect of these underprivileged students is unacceptable, and they deserve better.
