Kerala takes migrant kids to learning

Thiruvananthapuram: 44 migrant labourers have enrolled for literacy classes started for migrant labourers as a pilot project in one ward of the Perumbavoor municipality. The majority of those attending the classes are from Assam. Conducted by Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority, the classes are aimed at teaching Hindi and English. Literacy activist K K Krishnakumar is leading the classes. A textbook having 25 chapters covering the daily experience of the migrant labourers has also been prepared for the classes. The chapters include those related to health, food, market, hotel, travel and employment.

About 86.24 percent of migrant labourers in Perumbavoor municipality who participated in a survey conducted by the State Literacy Mission have expressed their willingness to learn Malayalam and Hindi.   However, nearly 13.76 percent pointed out that they did not have the time to spare and had opportunities for jobs outside the state. 5.71 percent of those who agreed to join the classes, were ready to attend evening classes on working days, while 32.79 percent wanted classes during the night. Nearly 8.86 percent agreed to participate in morning sessions while 26.18 percent said they would attend classes on holidays. All the people who participated in the survey could not read or write Malayalam though they had knowledge of basic mathematics. A majority of them also could not write or read Hindi.