The Need for Bridge Schools in Adilabad

Adilabad, historically an industrial hub, has seen high instances of child labor due to extreme poverty, illiteracy, and lack of educational access. Many children, instead of attending school, were engaged in hazardous jobs in factories, construction sites, and agricultural fields. These children needed an alternative educational path to reintegrate into the formal school system.

Our Partnership & Implementation

With funding and support from Action Aide, PCI (Project Concern International), and the Education Department, SUMANGALI successfully established 17 Residential Bridge Schools (RBCs) inside defunct factory buildings in Adilabad. These RBCs acted as transitional learning centers where child laborers received primary education, vocational training, and psycho-social support.

Our program included:

• Formal and non-formal education aligned with the government curriculum.
• Vocational skills training to help older children gain employable skills.
• Nutritious mid-day meals to support their physical and cognitive growth.
• Counseling and rehabilitation to ensure their successful reintegration into mainstream education.

Impact Achieved

• Over 2,500 child laborers rescued and educated through RBCs.
• More than 1,800 students successfully reintegrated into formal schools.
• Reduced dropout rates in government schools through awareness campaigns.

By bridging the education gap, SUMANGALI played a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of child labor in Adilabad, ensuring a brighter future for thousands of children.

Adilabad has been one of the districts with a high prevalence of child labor, especially in cotton fields, beedi-making factories, and small-scale industries. These children were deprived of basic education, forcing them into exploitative labor at a young age.

Our Initiative & Collaboration

SUMANGALI partnered with the National Child Labour Project (NCLP), Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, to set up NCLP Special Schools across the district. These schools provided formal education, mid-day meals, health checkups, and stipends to children rescued from labor.

Key activities included:

• Classroom-based learning with qualified teachers.
• Life skills training to empower children with confidence and resilience.
• Bridge courses to integrate them into mainstream schools.
• Collaboration with government schools for seamless transitions.

Impact Achieved

• More than 3,000 child laborers provided with formal education.
• Improved literacy rates in marginalized communities.
• Increased parental awareness, reducing child labor practices.

Through NCLP Schools, SUMANGALI helped children reclaim their childhood, ensuring their right to education and a dignified future.

Why Adilabad Needed an HIV Prevention Initiative

As a key transit district, Adilabad has a large truck driver population traveling between Telangana, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. The transient nature of their work made them high-risk carriers of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Lack of awareness, limited healthcare access, and social stigma further worsened the situation.

SUMANGALI’s Intervention

With support from Project Concern International (PCI) and local health departments, SUMANGALI launched a comprehensive HIV/AIDS awareness campaign targeting truck drivers at major transport hubs.

Our program included:

• Awareness workshops at truck stops and transport hubs.
• Free HIV testing and STI screenings in collaboration with healthcare centers.
• Counseling services to promote safe behaviors and risk reduction.
• Distribution of educational materials and protective resources.

Impact Achieved

• Over 5,000 truck drivers educated on HIV/AIDS prevention.
• Increased voluntary testing and early detection of infections.
• Reduction in stigma and improved access to treatment.

By educating high-risk communities, SUMANGALI contributed to reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS in Adilabad, ensuring better health outcomes for affected populations.