Mysore(TOI): In an attempt to bring migrant children into the mainstream of society, city-based rural literacy and health programme, an NGO working for education rights of children, conducted a signature campaign here on Thursday.

The NGO conducted a drawing competition and distributed hygiene kits among sixty children near Ashoka Circle here.

NGO coordinator Premalatha said that children from migrant families are deprived of education due to various reasons, including problem in communication. “Many such families are camping near Kalamandir, Ashoka Circle, near Bangalore-Mysore Road and outer ring road junction. Their children have been deprived of education. Some of them help their parents in their work, while a few hang around near the workplace of their parents. Many are into construction activities and selling of earthen pots,” she added.

On the occasion, the children were given hygiene kits, each comprising a towel, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a soap, a pair of nail clipper and a comb.

RLHP director Saraswathi said that to improve and extend social protection for underprivileged children, and migrant families, they organized some events as part of World Day Against Child Labour in Mysore for the first time. “Almost all children of migrant families from Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh staying in Mysore have been deprived of education,” she claimed.

“We are fighting for their education rights as RTE Act guarantees compulsory education for all children. We will conduct a signature campaign throughout this month and send a memorandum to the governor and the labour minister, seeking their support in this regard,” she said.