The seasonal hostels opened for migrant family children to continue their studies and wean them away from migration, have been closed in Belpada block of Balangir district even as the parents of children who had migrated to brick kiln are yet to return site, due to paucity of funds and ration supply.
The migrant parents of the hapless children have been kept in the houses of different people of the village as a part of adjustment till the parents of children return, much to the dismay of many civil society activists here.
According to reports, around 45children who were staying in seasonal hostel of Kharkarara village inBelpara block are now staying with relatives and neighbours as their seasonal hostel has been closed.
The seasonal hostel concept was conceptualised in Balangir and implemented in the district by the district administration in 2000-2001when Santosh Sarangi was the Collector with a view to check children going for migration along with their parents. The migration of the children not only disrupted their studies but also drove them to become child labourers at brick kilns. The implementation of the seasonal hostel along with civil society organisations, became a model of the Odisha Education Department and later, became a national programme under the SSA.
Even as there are huge numbers of children of migrating parents here, yet the hostels opened are not adequate to accommodate them. According to sources, THE OPEPA sanctioned opening of 92 seasonal hostels to keep 3,500migrating children in Balangir district in 2017-18. But as per the information available, the district administration has opened 83 seasonal hostels and kept 3,245children in them.
These hostels should function till arrival of their parents at native place. But unfortunately 15hostels of Belpada block have been closed in between April 30 to May2, due to lack of food grain and supply of other materials to the hostels in last 15 days. Besides, the salary of the caretakers is not released since last six months, pointed out a civil society activist.
The helpless caretakers had to close the hostels and requested local community to help in taking care of children till returning of their parents.
Meanwhile, it is demanded that step be taken to run the hostels for protecting the educational and other rights of the inmates.