Rajahmundry, June 8^th: The East Godavari district administration has taken up a special drive to enroll kids who have completed five years of age in schools for formal education from June 12 to 27. Under this program nearly 90, 144 children were identified by the authorities. They were making efforts to convince the parents of the children to join their kids themselves in government or government aided or even in private schools in class 1 for regular studies.

The authorities are planning to set up RBCs (Residential Bridge Centers) and NRBCs in villages where children are out of schools for various reasons with each RBC accommodating 100 children. The whole exercise of opening RBCs and NRBCs is scheduled to be taken up on July 1. The administration is also laying stress on enrolling children who have passed classes V and VII to their next class without a break.

A large number of children still work as child laborers at several commercial establishments, hotels, restaurants, film theaters etc. Several young girls work in houses as baby sitter or as domestic help. Efforts of the government and voluntary organization to identify such children and rescue them were successful only to some extent. According to the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan project officer, Mr. Y. Rishikesh, the authorities are going to organize mass aksharabhyasam for children who have completed five years of age.