One may term it as irony but on one hand State politicians demand to provide Jharkhand, a Special Status and on the other hand, the plans which are mooted for the development of the State are buried under the files and are gathering dust. A plan for providing Seasonal Hostels for children of migrated labourers is among one of the ill-fated schemes.
In the year 2012, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) put forward the issue to the members of Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC), for providing seasonal hostels for housing the children of State labourers who migrate from Jharkhand to earn their daily bread leaving their kids behind. Ironically, the plan is on the papers
only till date, with no sign of development.
Chairperson of SCPCR Roop lakshmi Munda said, “We are trying our best to make this plan successful but the problem is that the concerned officials are showing required interest in the matter. Our commission has not given up we keep on placing our plans in-front of the concerned official and are optimistic of getting it on ground soon.”
State labourers who leave their children behind want to continue their studies but due to lack of resources and acute financial crunch in the family force them to accompany their parents in earning their livelihood. With the view of retaining these children to the main stream members of SCPCR decided to help them. For this the commission had discussed the plan with the members of JEPC too. But, the outcome of the discussion is still buried among them.
When the pioneer tried to contact with the concerned officials of JEPC they remained unavailable to make his comment on the matter.
However, Secretary of Social Welfare Women and Child Development Rajeev Arun Ekka has ensured to look in the matter and complete the plan by the end of this financial year. He said, “I will invite the NGOs to provide this hostel within their premises and the department will help them by providing its maintenance cost. I assure that by the end of this financial year the plan will be seen on the ground.”