Strike peaceful

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 8: The CITU sponsored strike in unorganised sector passed off peacefully in Cooch Behar district today. Except a few no passenger vehicle of private operators were found plying though buses of North Bengal State Transport Corporation were pressed into service as usual. Rickshaws were also off the roads. As there were few vehicles the offices, courts and other regular crowded places were found with fewer visitors. Attendance was also affected in the offices due to the strike. Some shops were also found with shutters pulled down. Police said no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. []

 

Hostel facility planned for dropouts

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 8: A residential bridge course under Sarva Shiksha Mission (SSM) is planned in Cooch Behar district to minimise the number of dropouts. District SSM project officer Mr Dipankar Pal said they asked the Village Education Committees (VEC) to submit proposals for implementation of the plan.

 

According to an estimate Rs 6,000 will be needed annually per dropout child to keep them in hostels for continuation of their studies. A survey also started in this district for the project. But it is yet to be ascertained whether it may be possible to do the job with Rs 6,000 only per child annually. The plan behind it is to bring back the dropout children to their classrooms. The VECs were asked to conduct survey to identify the dropouts and prepare a list of them in the villages concerned. After reviewing the reports submitted by the VECs the centres for the proposed residential bridge course will be launched.

 

As the number of dropouts in primary and upper primary levels is increasing the SSM adopted the plan in a recent meeting after considering all aspects. Mentionworthy, the number of dropouts in upper primary level is more than that in primary level in this district.

 

The DPO (SSM) Mr Pal said the enrolment drive to bring back the dropouts to primary and upper primary schools will continue till September and after completion of the enrolment the proposals of the VECs will be reviewed.

 

SSM sources said that the reason behind increasing number of dropouts is dependent on the economic condition of the students' families. In a bid to help the poverty stricken families the children have to work at different workplaces to earn as little as the can. In this perspective it is next to impossible for these children to continue their studies in regular schools. It is a sort of luxury to many. The proposed plan may help them. According to the plan residential bridge course will be offered to the dropout students keeping them in places like school buildings, club rooms or in rented houses. After completion of the course they will be able to get admission at Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras.

 

The dropout students will be offered two options – fulltime and part-time. They can be able to continue their study by residing in the hostels or in their own residences. The DPO (SSM) Mr Pal hoped that the proposed scheme might be a great help in minimising dropout problem in Cooch Behar district. []