BIS # 1153 NCLP CENTRES INAUGURATED AT KAWANT

Greg Almeida sdb KAWANT, OCTOBER 18, 2008: October 17 was a significant day for Don Bosco as the first two National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Centres in the Kawant Taluka were inaugurated at Nishal Faliya and Dhadiamba Faliy in Kanalwa Village. The NCLP aims at identifying out of school children engaged in child labour and getting them into mainstream education after offering them a bridge course. This central government programme has proved to be highly successful in several districts across India. Don Bosco has taken the initiative to spearhead the same in the Kawant Taluka. The inaugural programme began at 10.00 am at Nishal Faliya. Present for this momentous occasion were Fr. Elson Barretto, Rector of Chhota; Mrs. Janaki Tank, NCLP Baroda District Coordinator; Mr. Dhilip Panchal, Congress Taluka President; Mr. Retam Rathwa, Village Sarpanch; several other local leaders and Salesians from the various institutions. The ceremony began with the traditional lighting of the lamp and cutting of the ribbon at both Centres. Fr. Elson Barretto, speaking in the local dialect Rathwi, stressed the importance of education. He urged all the village elders present to ensure that the children are sent to school, rather than engaging them in chores at home or in the fields. He reminded all present that the best investment for development is education. Mrs. Janaki Tank too focused on the need for spreading education in rural India. She said that support systems have to be in place to facilitate the spread of primary education. She expressed her great joy at the fact that this national programme was taking off in the Kawant Taluka, thanks to the initiative of Don Bosco. She further added that she would be happy if the same would begin quickly also in the Chhota Udepur Taluka. The programme came to a close with Br. Ramesh Durairaj proposing the vote of thanks. He said that for Kawant and for Don Bosco this was a dream come true. He thanked all those who were responsible for making this dream a reality and also all who were present for the occasion.