Annual Report 2008-2009 heart of the city was bereft of electricity. The student-teacher ratio was found to be disproportionate. Out of the sanctioned five posts of teachers for 419 children, only two teachers were employed. In Bal Niketan, on the other hand, it was observed that special care and attention was being given to all children by the teachers. A Bal Manch had been formed in Bal Niketan and the Parents-Teachers Association meetings were taking place regularly. However, it was revealed by the teachers that majority of the children who attended the school came from poor socio-economic background and shouldered many household responsibilities to enable their parents to eke out a living for survival. These children were thus deprived of friendly environment at home to study and improve their overall proficiency. Besides, there existed no school in the nearby vicinity where the children after completing Class VIII in the Lead School could go for higher studies in Class IX, X and XI, particularly those who showed keenness for higher studies. 7.29 An interaction with few boys and girls in the age group of 14 to 18 who had passed out from the Vocational Training Centres was also held. This was followed by a meeting with representatives of few non-governmental organizations running TECs under the INDUS Child Labour Project. Meetings were held with Members of the Self-Help Groups and officers from the Office of Labour Commissioner. During the course of interaction with the aforementioned people, attention was drawn towards the following: • Need for enhancing the honorarium of teachers working in special schools both under the NCLP and TECs of INDUS Child Labour Project. Similarly, their service conditions needs to be improved. Currently, they are not able to avail any kind of leave even on health grounds. • All Lead Schools meant for the purpose of mainstreaming children from Special Schools of NCLP or TECs of INDUS Child Labour Project into the formal education system must be within a close proximity of Special Schools/TECs. The teacher-pupil ratio in the Lead Schools must be proportionate to that of 1:30. • Need to improve the physical infrastructure of Special Schools, TECs and Lead Schools. Further, all sanctioned posts of teachers and other staff members need to be filled-up. The newly appointed teachers as well as other teachers need to be sensitized to the requirements of children and their parents. • Need for compulsory registration of all births in rural and urban areas. The Gram Panchayats, Sub-Centres and Primary Health Centres must play a pro-active role in this process. • Need to evolve a perfect system of health check-up for children studying in Special Schools, TECs and Lead Schools. The Medical Officer visiting these schools should be sensitized so that special attention is given to the growth – physical, mental and emotional — of each and every child. In case any child is found to be stunted or wasted or underweight; special 102