Annual Report 2008-2009 During this period, 351 hazardous industries were inspected whereby 7 working children were identified, rescued and enrolled in schools. In addition, 1,045 households were surveyed but no case of child labour was found. Besides, 486 hotels and dhabas; and 2,417 other establishments were inspected, from where 22 working children were identified and rescued. It was further informed that from January 2008 to April 2008; 2,711 inspections were conducted by special squads constituted by the District Administration. A redeeming feature of the inspections was that they were being conducted with a view to identifying working children and releasing them from work. While all rescued children were enrolled in SSA, Special Schools of NCLP and INDUS Project Transition Education Centres (TECs), legal and penal action was simultaneously being taken against the offending employers. 7.20 A visit was made by the Special Rapporteur to a TEC functioning from CSM School at Pillaiyar Palayam in Kancheepuram. Children studying here shared their experiences while they were employed which deprived them of their right to education and the joy of having access to education on being rescued from their employers. They narrated at length how they enjoyed and participated in class room activities like reading, writing, drawing and singing. One of the students who was mainstreamed from a TEC to a regular school and was studying in Class 12 explained to the Special Rapporteur the overall process of blood circulation as outlined in a chart displayed in the classroom. In the ensuing question and answer session, the students patiently answered to all kinds of queries related to their area of study. According to the Special Rapporteur, it was refreshing to observe that education had brought about a qualitative change in the lives of these children. 7.21 A visit was also made by the Special Rapporteur to a TEC operating in Thimiyampettai. Despite difficult economic conditions, long distance and geographical barriers, children from economically poor families who had dropped out earlier from the school at some point of time, were mobilized and enrolled in the concerned TEC. Out of the total number enrolled, 75 per cent of them were attending their classes regularly. However, the TEC at Thimiyampettai had only one woman teacher and she found it difficult and strenuous to do justice to the learning needs of 24 children who being drop-outs were placed in different levels/grades spanning between Class V to Class IX. The other grey areas of concern were that despite the academic session being in full swing, old text books were being used by children. There is a need to provide functional literacy to all the parents of children who have been weaned away from child labour. 7.22 Simultaneous attention needs to be given in the State for eradication of poverty, unemployment, hunger, starvation and malnutrition. Along with this, there is a need to create suitable conditions in Tamil Nadu whereby there is cent percent enrolment of children in schools and cent percent retention so that education of all children in the 6 – 14 age group becomes a reality. 99