Livelihood induced migration is causing school-dropouts in Odisha. Community Based Child Care (CBCC) team works out an antidote.

Tala Damadua in Mohana block of Gajapati district, Odisha is a remote tribal village. There are 75 households in the village that depend on daily-wage work.

But, due to unavailability of wages in the local area, 70% of families are migrating to other districts and states for livelihood. Due to lack of proper awareness, unavailability of school in the village and poor socio-economic condition many children and adolescent have stopped their education and are supporting their family’s income.

During a survey, carried out by Society for Welfare, Animation and Development (SWAD) under CBCC program, it was found that 4 children from upper primary and high school have dropped out. Some of them have joined their families as laborers to earn daily income. CBCC team conducted meetings with parents and counseled the children personally on importance of education. These children were also included in the children club of the villages and were motivated by their peers. Further CBCC team coordinated with the concerned school authority of Damadua High School and followed up their mainstream education. Followings are the details of the children mainstreamed:

I. Birendra Adhikari, 15 year old son of Arjun and Marina Adhikari of Tal Damadua village, left school after class 6th due to poor family conditions. He moved to Delhi with other village people and worked in a textile factory as a labourer. He returned to the village in 2014 but did not intend to go to school after detachment from education for 2 years. CBCC team members of village SMC motivated him to pursue education. He has now been mainstreamed at Fakir Mohan High school, Damadua in class 8th.

II. Kanha Patra, 15 year old son of Kalidash and Prabha Patra left school after class 5th due to poor family conditions and worked in a hotel at Paralakhemundi district head quarter. CBCC team met him with his relatives and counseled him to return to school. He returned home and is now continuing his education in class 6th at Mission high school Damadua. He is re-inventing his life by pursuing his education with support from CBCC.

III. Samiya Adhikari, 15 year old son of Iswar Chandra and Kuni Adhikari of Tal Damadua village left his school after class 6th and moved to Delhi to work as a wage earner. After two years he returned to the village in 2014 and was motivated by the CBCC program. He is now studying in class 8th in Fakir Mohan High school, Damadua.

IV. Jalendra Parichha, 15 year old son of Mementa and Runu of Tal damadua village dropped his education after class 4th for a period of one year. His father was addicted to alcohol and to manage a two time meal for his family, Jalendra had to work as a daily wage earner. After intervention by the CBCC project, he and his father were counseled by the project team and community. Finally his father gave up alcohol and began working in Damadua mission high school. Jalendra is now in class 6th at mission high school and is performing well in his class.
Apart from enrolling the dropouts, the project team also provided tutorial support to these children to increase their level of competencies, so they can perform well in class.