There are about 40,000 dropouts and children who do not go to school in the old city alone, according to initial surveys. Officials expect the numbers to go up considerably if a door-to-door survey is taken up, even as the government wants Right to Education Act implemented strictly. .
The Hyderabad district collectorate authorities have taken up the task of sending these children back to schools. “We know the job is easier said than done. That is why we are taking the help of NGOs who have been working in the old city,” said a senior official from the district administration. The authorities are waiting for a nod from the state government to launch a special enrolment drive in which one lakh houses will be visited by hundreds of volunteers drawn from six various NGOs like Mahitha, COVA, MV Foundation, Reddy Foundation, Naandi and Pratham. Each volunteer will cover 100 to 200 houses and identify the number of children not going to school. The survey will be conducted for a week to 10 days followed by counselling of parents and children.
“The children will be enrolled in urban residential hostels and other institutions until they are deemed fit to join mainstream schools. It will be a three-month programme. We are expecting a go-ahead from the government in a day or two,” Rajiv Vidya Mission, Hyderabad, project officer, P. Susheendra Rao told this correspondent. The representatives from various NGOs have roped in the GHMC area sabha and ward committee members, corporators, MLAs, MLCs and MPs to make the programme a success.