Of the total 37 RBCs, 50 per cent are concentrated in Thaly, Kelamangalam, Hosur, Shoolagiri and other blocks in the vicinity of the reserve forests. The SSA is also running a RBC at Kamatchipuram near Jagadevi in Tiruvannamalai Road exclusively for 50 Irula children.
The SSA has proposed to achieve a 4234 enrolment in RBCs in the district before the end of this month, said Mr. Baskaran.
K. Vijaya, whose two children are studying at a RBC centre at Kariasandiram said: “We want our children to pursue good education with the help of the government and let them lead a respectful life. If they become literate, it will help our community to pursue good education”.
K. Sudhir, who has studied up to Class IX has set up a petty shop at the Narikurava colony in Kariasandiram.
F. Sujita, a teacher at the RBC for Irulas at Thottegoundampalli said they enrolled children from Ramanthotti, Sigaralapalli gate and surrounding villages. She said though the parents initially resisted the thought of sending their children to schools, later with some orientation, realised the importance of education and sent their wards to the RBC.
S. Selvam, a teacher at the RBC for Narikuravas told The Hindu that the children showed considerable progress.
District Collector V. Arun Roy, who made a surprise visit to the Kariasandiram RBC recently, expressed happiness with the progress of the students.