East Jaintia Hills raises awareness to bring children back to school

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 18, 2024

The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), East Jaintia Hills District, in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) and Red FM, Shillong, organized awareness programmes titled “Opening Doors for Education to Children and Back to School Campaign” at Ladrymbai Market and Khliehriat Market on October 17.

At the Ladrymbai event, key participants included B Kharbithai, Secretary of DLSA, East Jaintia Hills, K Challam, Deputy Legal Aid Defence Counsel, Melody War, Legal Aid Counsel, R Sungoh, OoSC Coordinator from Samagra Shiksha, and S. Kamar, Special Educator, along with other officials, students, teachers, and community members.

K Challam addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of education and encouraging parents to send their children to school. She discussed causes of school dropouts, such as child labor and child marriage, and explained key laws protecting children’s rights, including the Prohibition of Child Labour Act, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and the Free and Compulsory Education Act.

R Sungoh spoke about the available schemes for deprived children, stressing the importance of education in daily life. Other speakers included Melody War and S Kamar. The event featured a short play by Little Star Secondary School, poster displays by Cambridge Secondary School, musical performances by Good Shepherd Secondary School, and a recitation on education by Oxford Secondary School.

In Khliehriat, the programme was attended by F Wann, Assistant Commissioner, B. Kharbithai, Secretary of DLSA, K. Challam, Deputy Legal Aid Defence Counsel, Melody War, OoSC Coordinator, R Sungoh, Special Educator, and local lawyers, along with students. Speakers, including B Kharbithai, reiterated the campaign’s objectives to bring back school dropouts and highlighted the role of education in shaping futures. The programme also featured a recitation by students from Khliehriat Higher Secondary School and a poster display by Khliehriat Presbyterian Higher Secondary School.

This campaign, initiated by MSLSA under the guidance of its Executive Chairman, aims to reintegrate school dropouts and protect their educational rights under Article 21A of the Constitution and the Right to Education Act, 2009.