Haryana launches 'Bhatta Pathshalas'

Chandigarh, June 22 (UNI) In a novel initiative, study centres known as 'Bhatta Pathshalas' have been set up to educate children of brick kiln (Bhatta) labourers in Jhajjar district in Haryana.

The project is first of its kind in the country and proposed to be replicated throughout Haryana, Haryana Labour and Employment Minister Birender Singh said today.

As many as 1200 children of brick kiln labourers in Jhajjar district, he said, were being imparted basic educational course affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) through Sarva-Shiksha Abhiyan.

He said the state government had also set up a Child Labour Cell in the Labour Department with a Deputy Labour Commissioner at head office as the Nodal Officer of the cell for monitoring the enforcement of law.

The Minister said the Union government also sanctioned three National Child Labour Projects for three districts of Haryana -- Panipat, Faridabad and Gurgaon.

He said the consent had also been given for National Child Labour Projects (NCLP) in Jhajjar district Hisar and Yamunanagar.

UNI