The Bihar unit of the Right to Education (RTE) Forum, in a representation, signed by prominent citizens, has drawn the attention of the Bihar chief minister towards protection of children's rights in the situation arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Insisting on the need for a well-planned strategy for the interests of children, the memorandum says, children, especially girls, have not been getting necessary nutrition inputs from schools and anganwadis.
While schools are closed due to the Corona crisis, the memorandum says, the children of Dalit and other deprived communities in the unorganized sector are most affected by the huge economic insecurity and lack of alternative sources of livelihood. “In such a situation, there is danger of huge spike in out of school children soon after the lockdown ends”, it says.
“Things have got particularly aggravated with a large number of migrant labourers returning to Bihar along with their children. There is a danger of sharp rise in child labour. Therefore, the right to food and education needs to be urgently protected”, the memorandum states, insisting, “The government must ensure enrolment of 14-18 year olds in order to achieve the goals of universalization of education.”
Those who have signed the memorandum include national coordinator, RTE Forum, Ambarish Rai; Kedarnath Pandey, president, Bihar Secondary Teachers Association and member of Bihar Legislative Council; Shatrughan Prasad Singh, and ex-MP and general secretary of the Bihar Secondary Teachers Association; Dr. Anil Kumar Rai, convener, Bihar unit, RTE Forum; Pushpendra Kumar Singh, director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Patna, others.
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