Ajay’s return to learning
Ajay* lives in a remote village in Ramanathapuram district, where transport is available for children only if they are heading to work. For those who wish to study beyond primary school, the nearest high school is 16 kilometres away, a distance covered either on foot or at a cost higher than what his parents earn in a day. His parents somehow managed the travel expense until Grade 9. But survival came first. Soon, Ajay began fishing to support the family’s livelihood. “If he works, he can save money for the future. What is the benefit of studying?” they asked when the project team visited their home after noticing his absence from school.
The team understood that this was not neglect, but a decision born out of financial stress and limited awareness. They counselled the family gently, speaking about the importance of education and the mental, physical and legal consequences of child labor. Months passed but nothing changed. Ajay continued to fish. For seven long months, the team persisted. When counselling alone did not help, they sought support from Childline. Still, the family resisted. Finally, the team approached the district Child Welfare Police Officer and mobilised collective action involving Panchayat leaders, the Children’s Collective and community members.
Slowly, perspectives began to shift. Ajay was re enrolled in Grade 9, with a special meeting arranged with the school principal. To ensure he would never have to choose work over school again, the principal extended the school bus service to his village, waived the transport fee, and welcomed Ajay into the school with warmth, inclusivity, and encouragement.
Today, Ajay attends school regularly. He has joined CRY’s Children’s Collective and is rediscovering a childhood that had been paused too soon, yet is never too late to reclaim.
*Name changed and AI image used to protect child’s identity
The Problem
One of the key problems of Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu is the high number of child laborers. The reasons being, lack of livelihood opportunities, indebtedness, door pick up for child laborers working in salt pans and seafood processing units, and no access to secondary and higher secondary schools nearby. In addition to it, high cost for transport adds on to the severity of the problem that children and communities face.
The Solution
CRY America’s Project Rural Workers Development Society (RWDS) focuses on increasing school retention rates by ensuring better physical access to schools, improving infrastructure and quality within schools and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centers, and promoting greater child participation. The project supports community engagement by forming groups in all 52 villages, consisting of community volunteers, Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), local youth, and Panchayat members. Key activities include facilitating regular immunization, initiating supplementary support classes, and implementing measures to prevent school dropout rates.
Impact Of The Project
800
Children transitioned from preschool to Grade 1
220
Children removed from labor and re-enrolled in schools
625
Children cleared their 10th & 12th grade board exams
190
Children accessed education support at Child Activity Centres (CACs)
200
Village Level Child Protection Committee (VLCPC) members sensitized on child protection issues
700
Girls’ safety strengthened through police patrols and CCTV installations
239
Children trained through Life Skills sessions
39
Adolescent Collectives formed
2026 Plans
- Conduct one engagement meeting each with the state-level Transport Department, members of 20 SMCs, and 50 stakeholders at the district level on education and prevention of dropouts.
- Conduct assessments of AWCs, schools, and the functioning of SMCs and VCPCs in 10 villages
- Prevent 20 children from entering labor
- Establish 6 STCs (Special Training Centres) with support from the community and volunteers to strengthen protection mechanisms
- Train 25 Children’s or Adolescent Collectives in Life Skills
2026 Total Budget
2025 Grant Disbursed $58,220
2026 Grant Approved $63,922
