ENSURING ALL THE CHILDREN GO FOR SCHOOLING

Residential Study Complex which is being run by ASSIST at Piduguralla of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh has 100 children belonging to the age group of 5-14 years studying from 1^st standard to 5^th standard. All these children belong to Backward Caste, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. Since all the families of the children are Below Poverty Line (BPL), they cannot effort to send their children to schools. Instead of sending them to schools, children are being sent to Lime Kilns to work as child labourers by their parents such that they can support their families financially.

ASSIST's field staff has generated awareness among the parents of these children regarding the importance of education, As a result parents of these children have been convinced and agreed to send their children to Residential Study Complex which is being run by ASSIST. In this Residential Study Complex, children are not only given education but also they are being provided school uniform, meals, teaching, learning material, playing material, books, pens, School Bags etc. It is purely a residential system and children are not allowed to go outside. Proper security measures have been taken care at the Residential Study Complex.

All infrastructure facilities have been provided in this Residential Study Complex. It is quite safe and secure. After completing 5th standard in this centre, children are mainstreamed to nearby High schools and necessary follow-up is being done after enrolling them in High schools as well. All together 100 children are studying at Residential Study Complex of Piduguralla which is being run by ASSIST. I am submitting this as additional information.

During the reporting period, the grass root level situations are still continuing with the effect of COVID-19 pandemic. All the children are at stay at home and following SOP (Standard Operational Proceedings) issued by the Government. ASSIST prepared awareness brochure on COVID-19 and creating awareness in our target communities. In this reporting period ASSIST started construction of dining hall for residential complex children, work is under progress.